OTTAWA – On 9 October 2012, Peter Bevan-Baker, incoming Leader of the Green Party of Prince Edward Island (P.E.I.) was served papers by the RCMP after he protested the realignment of the Trans-Canada Highway between New Haven and Bonshaw. He will appear in court in December to face trespassing charges.
Elizabeth May, Green Party of Canada Leader and MP for Saanich-Gulf Islands, wants to publicly state her support for Mr. Bevan-Baker. “This project cannot be justified for safety reasons and will destroy not only some precious, unique habitat, but the trust and respect of many Islanders and their faith in our democratic institutions, ” said May.
“Peter’s fight against this unnecessary highway realignment is a brave one. He was on public land. There is a constitutional right to assemble peacefully. These trespassing charges are unreasonable and I demand they be dropped immediately by the RCMP,” added May.
“The late Green Party of Kenya Leader and Nobel Prize winner Wangari Maathai showed us that non-violent civil disobedience is sometimes necessary when our rights and liberties are at stake. I urge the citizens of P.E.I. to join Peter and his supporters in this important ecological struggle,” concluded May.
Peter Bevan-Baker will be acclaimed Green Party of P.E.I. Leader in November.
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Media Contact:
Stéphane Vigneault
Communications Coordinator, Green Party of Canada
cell: 613.614.4916
