5 Individuals Become the First to Receive Criminal Convictions for Violating Coastal GasLink Injunction

Five individuals charged with criminal contempt while opposing the Coastal GasLink pipeline project have received their sentences.

That makes them the first to receive criminal convictions for violating an injunction order initially put in place by the BC Supreme Court in 2019.

In November of 2021, 27 individuals were arrested for violating that order by blocking workers at a camp on the Morice Forest Service Road.

This summer, the Prosecution Service decided they would be pursuing criminal contempt charges against 19 of those arrested.

Now, Skyler Williams, Layla Staats, and Nina Sylvestor have each been ordered to pay a $500 fine, while Amanda Wong and Joshua Goskey opted for 25 hours of community service instead.

While all 5 receiving sentences pleaded guilty to their charges, the remaining 14 are expected to fight the charges based on alleged Charter rights violations