Police present but not enforcing injunction at Alberta oil blockade

Police are present at a blockade of an oil lease road in northern Alberta but say they aren’t enforcing an injunction for members of a local First Nation to clear the site.

“We are aware of the situation, and we have dispatched resources to speak with both parties,” said RCMP Cpl. Mathew Howell.

“We have not gone into an enforcement capacity. We’re trying to get both parties to the table.”

On Monday, a judge issued an injunction for members of the Woodland Cree First Nation, north of Peace River, to clear a road used by Calgary-based Obsidian Energy. The blockade was first set up in February and Obsidian says it needs the road to conduct maintenance on a pipeline site.

“This work is time-sensitive as it must be completed prior to break up and the imposition of road bans,” say court documents filed by Obsidian.

Chief Isaac Laboucan-Avirom said the dispute began last year. He said the First Nation was taken by surprise when Obsidian announced plans for about

200 new wells without consulting the band ahead of time.

“They do have to talk to us,” he said, speaking from the blockade site where protesters were finishing up a lunch of moose ribs.

“In meaningful consultation, you start out in a respectful way — not coming at us saying, ‘We’re going to do this whether you like it or not.’”

He said the band isn’t opposed to development and has agreements with other energy companies in the area.

But he said the band has concerns about their traditional territory becoming a “checkerboard” of development. The band is also concerned about earthquake activity caused by Obsidian’s work.

“We still haven’t had clarity there,” the chief said. “Is this something that’s going to infiltrate our groundwater?”

The Alberta Energy Regulator issued an environmental protection order against Obsidian in March 2023 for causing a series of earthquakes, including the largest recorded tremor in the province’s history.

Obsidian says it has a right to the road and that the site is not on the band’s reserve.