The Member of Parliament for Kamloops says the rail blockades in eastern Canada and in Northern B.C. in support of the hereditary chiefs of the Wet’suwet’en First Nation go against the rule of law.

Cathy McLeod says the CN Rail shutdown across eastern Canada will hurt industry and communities that rely on the trains.

“The Forest Products Association of Canada talked about how they are not able to get product to the mill and then product from the mills to their customers,” she said. “And so that’s just one commodity among many that rely on rail services. These are significant economic impacts, and the longer that it goes on the bigger the impact.”

While the federal government is reaching out to protesters to try and end to the blockades, McLeod says it’s concerning that the Prime Minister is not in the country to directly address the issues.

“I hope the leadership reaches out to the duly elected government in terms of the communities that are impacted,” she told NL News. “The Wet’suwet’en – their elected representatives are supporting the project. Not all hereditary chiefs are against this particular project.”

While the blockade near New Hazelton, BC was taken down amid talks with government, the blockade near Belleville, Ontario continues to remain up.

“We have court injunctions and of course we have the rule of law in this country. I appreciate that the RCMP or whatever police service is responsible for them want to move in a way that is not going to create escalating tensions,” McLeod noted.

“I know they will do their best to enforce the rule of law and that is their job.”

This morning Conservative Leader Andrew Scheer says anti-pipeline protesters who are blocking vital rail-lines need to “check their privilege” and let people do their jobs. He says the protests are illegal and wants the Liberal government to tell the RCMP to enforce court injunctions to end the blockades.

However, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says he does not tell the Mounties, or any other police service, how to conduct their operations.

The blockades have resulted in the suspension of passenger and freight service for much of the country.

– With files from the Canadian Press