COAST SALISH TERRITORY - There are still dozens of land protectors on Burnaby Mountain - but they are behind police tape after the RCMP spent the day arresting as many as 24 Burnaby Mountain Caretakers for Kinder Morgan.  The Texas company's crews are now destroying the camp and back surveying for a planned oil pipeline tunnel through the mountain.

The Caretakers started camping on the site after Kinder Morgan crews cut down 17 large trees in the Conservation area.  The pipeline plan is opposed by the majority of citizens, area Indigenous nations and even local municipal governments, but is backed by the federal government and the courts.

The arrests started around 8am. Dozens of police flooded the park after reading a court injunction that had been issued earlier this week in favor of Kinder Morgan. Most of the cops appeared to be from neighbouring juristictions, including Abbotsford, Surrey and New westminister. Burnaby Mayor Derek Corrigan has been an outspoken critic of the pipeline plan but was not on site.

Some of those arrested have reportedly been released and others are being held at the Burnaby Detention Centre.

For more VMC coverage see: RCMP Sweep into Park...