One wonders what the response would have been had the blockades been mounted by biker gangs, pro-abortion or pro-life groups, or deranged Maple Leaf fans pledging to maintain the barriers until Toronto wins the Stanley Cup! There is no doubt that such protests would have been dealt with immediately, with those resisting being arrested on the spot. A more cautious approach is understandable given the troubled history of the stand-offs at Oka and Ipperwash – and given that respect for Natives and for the environment are now considered sacrosanct.
But the rule of law is not a flexible concept to be adjusted according to the number of past injustices or the purity of present intentions. This latest outbreak of lawlessness has gone on long enough. It is time to reassert the authority of Canada’s elected governments and its courts.