Zeus takes a point position with Robert Fuller, left, and Vic Brice, members of Extinction Rebellion, during a protest against old-growth forest logging held on Dunsmuir Street, in front of Nanaimo MLA Sheila Malcolmson’s office on Friday. (Chris Bush/News Bulletin)Zeus takes a point position with Robert Fuller, left, and Vic Brice, members of Extinction Rebellion, during a protest against old-growth forest logging held on Dunsmuir Street, in front of Nanaimo MLA Sheila Malcolmson’s office on Friday. (Chris Bush/News Bulletin)

Old-growth logging protesters block downtown Nanaimo street

RCMP stood by during protest in front of Nanaimo MLA's office Friday, April 23

A downtown Nanaimo street was blocked off by about 15 people protesting logging of old-growth forests and government inaction to ban the practice.

The protesters, most of whom were associated with the group Extinction Rebellion, stood with placards at the intersection of Dunsmuir and Albert streets Friday, blocking Dunsmuir Street in front of the constituency offices of Nanaimo MLA Sheila Malcolmson and Nanaimo-Ladysmith MP Paul Manly.

“We are here because we are extremely disappointed in the NDP government for their lack of commitment to actually following through on the eight recommendations of the strategic report that they fully agreed they would implement as soon as possible,” said Vic Brice. “They didn’t even put any extra money in the budget for it. Big fail.”

Nanaimo RCMP stood by throughout most of the protest, which lasted from 1-3 p.m., and called in City of Nanaimo workers to erect sawhorse road barriers until the protest disbanded.

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Nanaimo News Bulletin