Alberta’s proposed Critical Infrastructure Defence Act – tabled Tuesday after the Throne Speech – is meant to offer more tools to enforcement and prosecutors, Premier Jason Kenney said..Bill 1, the Critical Infrastructure Defence Act, will designate pipelines, oil and gas production and refinery sites, highways, railways, utilities, mines, and telecommunications infrastructure as “critical” and clarifies enforcement procedures and new fines for law breakers..“We’re calling on justice ministers across the country to take a new approach to justice – to make sure that they are vocal in their displeasure with these types of protests,” Schweitzer said..“Hopefully they will enact similar legislation across the country – from coast to coast.”.Kenney said it was “clear” that the recent decision by Teck Resources to abandon its almost decade-long regulatory assessment, was brought on “in part by the protests” that began in greater numbers at the beginning of February..“Over the last number of weeks, Albertans have witnessed the level of economic damage that a small group of lawbreakers can cause through blockades and other illegal protests,” said Doug Schweitzer, Alberta’s Minister of Justice and Solicitor General..A minority of Wet’suwet’en hereditary chiefs have said they oppose the project. Elected officials who represent the same people have publicly supported the Coastal GasLink (CGL) pipeline project..Protests in support of the opposition to CGL have blocked Canadian National (CN) railway lines and forced the company to issue almost 500 temporary layoff notices due to the inability to transport goods. VIA Rail, a passenger train service that runs on CN’s tracks, has cancelled service and issued temporary layoffs to almost 1,000 employees since the beginning of February..“Our government will not stand idly by and allow Alberta to be an economic hostage to illegal activity – now or ever,” Schweitzer said..“The Critical Infrastructure Defence Act will help protect our way of life by ensuring the rule of law is upheld and the infrastructure that is critical to our province’s economy can continue to operate.”.The new Act will allow fines to be administered to individuals on a daily basis – $10,000 for the first offense and up to $25,000 on the second and subsequent days and cover actions on roads, rail, public and private property. Businesses or corporations “that aid, counsel, or direct the commission of an offence could face fines of up to $200,000.”.Additionally, individuals could also face up to six months imprisonment..Schweitzer also said this new legislation would allow enforcement officials to act without requiring affected businesses to first obtain a court order..Premier Kenney confirmed that enforcement officers will still be able to use their discretion, as is current practice..Deirdre is a Senior Reporter with Western Standarddmaclean@westernstandardonline.com @Mitchell_AB on Twitter
