(The Canadian Press circulated the following on May 17.)
TORONTO — An Ontario Superior Court judge has temporarily upheld an injunction barring further blockades on Canadian National Railway’s rail lines in eastern Ontario.
The injunction was granted April 20 after aboriginal protesters set up a rail blockade near Deseronto, Ont., some 30 kilometres west of Kingston.
CN Rail has also filed a lawsuit seeking to recover damages incurred during the 30-hour blockade.
The protesters, who are members of the Mohawks of the Bay of Quinte First Nation, are demanding the licence to a nearby quarry on disputed land known as the Culbertson Tract be revoked until a claim is settled.
Peter Rosenthal, lawyer for protest leader Shawn Brant, says the defence was not prepared to properly respond to details in an application filed by CN Rail for a more lengthy injunction.
Both sides are expected to return to court to deal with the injunction application in the coming months.