B.C.’s top court extends old-growth logging protest injunction to next fall

A court injunction against old-growth logging protests on Vancouver Island has been extended until next fall in a British Columbia Court of Appeal decision that overturns a lower-court ruling.

A court injunction against old-growth logging protests on Vancouver Island has been extended until next fall in a British Columbia Court of Appeal decision that overturns a lower-court ruling.

In a unanimous decision Wednesday, a panel of three judges granted the appeal by forestry company Teal Cedar Products Ltd. of a B.C. Supreme Court decision that denied the company’s application to extend the injunction by one year.

More than 1,100 people have been arrested while protesting old-growth logging in the Fairy Creek area near Port Renfrew, about 110 kilometres west of Victoria.

Company spokesman Conrad Browne said some timber harvesting activities are now taking place.

“There are areas that we can’t get to because of winter weather, but that doesn’t preclude us from going and harvesting other areas in tree farm licence 46,” said Browne, who is Teal Cedar’s director of Indigenous engagement and strategic relations.

The company is pleased the court granted the appeal and extended the injunction until Sept. 26, he said.

“Given the reading of the reasons in their decision to do this, it is quite telling and very supportive of all of the arguments we put in front of the courts,” Browne said.

The court panel overturned the lower-court ruling, saying the judge erred in denying Teal Cedar’s application to extend the injunction.