Thirteen environmentalists who were arrested last year during a protest on Parliament Hill will fight trespassing charges in provincial court Monday.

The activists, who crossed a barrier set up on the hill by RCMP, intend to file an application moving for the charges to be dismissed on the grounds of delay.

Graham Saul, one of those charged, said he and the other defendants intend to call a series of witnesses who will speak about the urgency of the issue of global climate change.

The Sept. 26, 2011 protest targeted the federal government’s support of the controversial Keystone XL pipeline.