From: brewnoser2@gmail.com   
      
   Vancouver Sun - July 14, 2015    
      
   Public access to B.C. Legislature chamber barred after LNG protest   
      
       
   VICTORIA -- B.C. legislature officials barred public access to the chamber   
   Tuesday morning, after protesters interrupted Premier Christy Clark's speech   
   on liquefied natural gas a day earlier.   
      
   The general public was not allowed into the chamber to watch MLAs debate LNG   
   legislation Tuesday morning, though vetted guests of MLAs with tickets were   
   able to attend. Public tours in the rest of the building were unaffected.   
      
   The decision was made by Speaker Linda Reid. She reversed course and re-opened   
   the chamber Tuesday afternoon, amid public criticism from MLAs.   
      
   "It provided us the time we required to do a review of the incident yesterday   
   and review security procedures," said Kate Ryan-Lloyd, deputy clerk.   
      
   The public must go through scanning machines to enter the legislative chamber.   
      
   As many as 12 protesters interrupted Clark's LNG speech Monday by standing in   
   the public gallery while shouting slogans about how LNG development will lead   
   to increased climate change.  They were immediately escorted out of the   
   building by security.   
      
   Some MLAs criticized the Speaker and legislature for restricting public access   
   to the capital building.   
      
   NDP MLA David Eby said it was "unacceptable" to close public access to the   
   house because of a small protest.   
      
   NDP MLA Nicholas Simons said he wasn't sure he agreed with the decision either.   
      
   Green MLA Andrew Weaver called the move "heavy-handed" and "made no sense."   
      
   Weaver said he did not know the protesters, but admitted he did provide an MLA   
   ticket to one man from Squamish who he said "got caught up in the hoopla" and   
   was thrown out of the building with the main group of protesters for shouting.   
      
   Weaver was hauled into the Speaker's office Monday to explain his involvement,   
   and later told the legislature publicly he did not condone the activity.   
      
   "I had absolutely nothing to do with it at all," he said.   
      
   The legislature is currently installing scanning machines at the main   
   entrances to the building, though officials admitted Tuesday none of the   
   current or new security measures will prevent disgruntled members of the   
   public from shouting and being    
   disruptive once they are inside the building.   
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