Winnipeggers protest Coastal GasLink on Wet’suwet’en land

Demonstrators gathered in 40 locations across Canada on Saturday to voice their opposition to the Royal Bank of Canada’s funding of fossil fuel projects.

The protests, part of a nationwide effort dubbed Fossil Fools Day, unfolded in cities including Edmonton, Toronto, Ottawa, Winnipeg, Halifax and Vancouver.

Organizers in Winnipeg said the government isn’t doing enough when it comes to heeding concerns being raised by people across the country about the Coastal GasLink in B.C., which RBC is funding.

Demonstrators gathered against the sound of traditional drumming and song, as they called for Indigenous and treaty rights to be respected – and the project to be scrapped.

Eric Rae, who organized Saturday’s demonstration, says the fact the project has been able to progress so far is a sign the government is not listening to concerns from the people.

“Governments across the country have shown time and time again that they don’t listen to people,” said Rae. “We wouldn’t have to be out here. We’ve been out here for years doing these kinds of things and the fact that we’re still out here means that they’re not listening.”

RBC has stressed the importance of an orderly transition to net-zero financed emissions, previously announcing it hoped to reach that goal in 2050 and setting a smaller, interim target for 2030.

But critics say the bank’s targets fall far short of what’s needed.

The U.N. has raised concerns about the treatment of those in B.C. who have been demonstrating against the Coastal GasLink.

According to the most recent construction update, CGL is now 85 per cent complete.

The company, which says it’s been working closely with Indigenous leaders, called it a “significant milestone” for the project.

RBC has also funded the Trans Mountain pipeline, the estimated costs of which have ballooned recently to $30.9 billion.

The estimated cost of CGL has also grown to $14.5 billion.

—With files from The Canadian Press