Donations flowing to support Aamjiwnaang activist

By Greg Plain

AAMJIWNAANG FN – Local environmental activist Ron Plain has been ordered to pay $16,584.87 to CN Rail for his role in a 13-day blockade of the rail line through the First Nation last winter.

“Donations have come from as far away as Norway, Australia and throughout North America,” says Plain. People are disgusted at the attempt to intimidate me by CN, and the allowance of the Ontario courts to utilize that system to do so.  We must stand united, and will publicly stand together when the fine is paid and say in unison, ‘We cannot be intimidated’.”

Plain, 51, has been off work since March due to a neck injury, and is waiting for a decision on disability benefits. A campaign to raise $10,000 for his legal defence raised $4,800 before the Ontario Superior Court ordered Plain to pay the fine in July. He has won awards for his work in creating awareness about the detrimental healthy effects being suffered by Aamjiwnaang residents from the pollutants being emitted by the petrochemical plants located in Sarnia’s infamous Chemical Valley.

Aamjiwnaang Chief Chris Plain was also named on the orders by Justice David Brown, who had previously represented CN as a Lawyer and expert witness in the past, a fact he failed to mention during the Aamjiwnaang court proceedings.

Plain said his lawyers would be filing a complaint regarding this lack of disclosure.

CN  claimed that Ron Plain was a spokesperson for protesters who began a blockade of the CN spur line Dec. 21, 2012 as part of a wave of protests involving the Idle No More movement.

He was subsequently declared in contempt of a court order to end the blockade, but chose not to appeal because the costs of appealing were more than the fine.

Details on fundraising efforts can be found at www.ronplain.com

The railway, which initially submitted a $100,000 claim for damages due to interruption of business, says Plain’s $16,500 fine will flow to Aamjiwnaang First Nation to support some community activities.