Police and protesters are standing their ground along New Brunswick’s Highway 11 as officers enforce an injunction intended to keep shale gas opponents away from fracking equipment.
SWN Resources Canada has installed geophones along Highway 11.
“Their equipment is at least 20 metres away from us, so we’re within our rights to be here,” says protester Gary LaFrance.
Protesters say they trying to abide by a court order to keep their distance from the equipment but are finding the legal document hard to follow.
“When you read an injunction and it’s got all these words in it, is this harassing? Is this intimidation?” asks protester Ann Pohl. “At what point are we vulnerable and when are we not vulnerable?”
Things were mostly quiet in the Rexton area on Tuesday, but one man was arrested and his car was towed. At times, protesters taunted police who stood their ground.
The protest is taking place on Steve Quigley’s property, which parallels the highway. The organic beef farmer is concerned about the environmental impact hydraulic fracturing could have on his way of life.
“If it does affect the water as they claim, definitely, it could actually ruin not just the water supply, but also the value because my cattle drink off the springs,” says Quigley.
His wife provided permission to the protesters to access their land in writing, as request by the RCMP.
“My concerns involve the risks, and as long as there’s risks, there is concern,” says Barbara Quigley.
With files from CTV Atlantic's Jonathan MacInnis
