B.C. judge drops charges against anti-pipeline protesters

A B.C. Supreme Court judge has dropped civil contempt charges against dozens of protesters who were arrested at an anti-pipeline protest near Vancouver.

The order came Thursday after Kinder Morgan acknowledged it had used incorrect GPS co-ordinates when it sought an injunction related to its Trans Mountain pipeline.

More than 100 people have been arrested on Burnaby Mountain, including Grand Chief Stewart Phillip of the Union of B.C. Indian Chiefs, who crossed the police line earlier Thursday.

Kinder Morgan is conducting drilling and survey work at the site related to the proposed expansion of its Trans Mountain pipeline.

While that was unfolding, a lawyer for the company asked Judge Austin Cullen to expand an injunction that has been used to arrest more than 100 people, including Phillip. Nearly all of them have been charged with civil contempt for violating the order.

A company lawyer said the GPS co-ordinates used in the initial injunction application – and, subsequently, in the court order – were inaccurate.