The blockade at the Coutts border in protest of vaccine mandates has now been deemed illegal by RCMP..Despite earlier reports from on-site RCMP that protesters were exercising their right to engage in peaceful protest, the Alberta RCMP sent out a message on social media Sunday night calling the event unlawful..“The Alberta RCMP continue to act to preserve the peace and maintain public safety at the Coutts border crossing,” said the tweet..“Extensive efforts have been taken to engage with all stakeholders in the hopes that a peaceful resolution can be reached. We are working with truck drivers who are attempting to disengage from this event so that they are able to do so; however, current conditions have traffic immobilized..“The Alberta RCMP will use only the level of intervention necessary to ensure the safety of all citizens and to maintain peace, order, and security. Our goal is to facilitate lawful and peaceful protest,” continued the tweet..“When an event becomes unlawful we utilize a measured approach, which ultimately includes enforcement. This event is unlawful and we are asking those who are involved to clear the area.”.The statement said while the Alberta RCMP recognizes citizens have the right to “peaceful assembly and freedom of expression,” local residents, businesses and the general public “also have the right to a safe environment and freedom of movement.”.RCMP Cpl. Curtis Peters said the protest is unlawful due to the blockage of Hwy. 4..“It’s unlawful to block off a highway according to the Alberta Traffic Safety Act and there are some unintended consequences happening as a result,” said Peters..The corporal added the village of Coutts supplies fire services to the Montana town of Sweet Grass, and the blockade is preventing all cross-border access..Peters also said the local bus driver responsible for transporting children to schools in Milk River told him Sunday night they would not be attempting to get through the blockade although organizers said they have been clear they will aid in making sure school buses and emergency vehicles can pass..“The school bus hasn’t been able to come to Coutts today,” said Peters, who added he doesn’t believe preventing children from attending school is the right thing to do..Principal Rachelle Miller from the Horizon School Division in Milk River confirmed students who bus in from Coutts and the surrounding area did not arrive at school this morning..“The organizers were pretty vocal about making sure the bus would have a way through the blockade and they said they didn’t want to impact the children from not being able to attend school, so I am not sure what happened,” Miller told the Western Standard..“It would have been a decision from First Student, the busing company contracted for our school division. But as I understood it, they (protesters) were going to make sure any buses could get through.”.When the Western Standard tried to contact First Student for comment, their main Calgary number as well as the local contact provided by the Horizon School Division reached a recorded message stating the person is “not taking calls at the moment.”.Nick Friesen, one of the protest organizers, told the Western Standard he and other organizers ensured there is access for buses and emergency vehicles to travel in either direction. He also indicated there’re other gravel roads accessible to get out of Coutts and for truckers and other travellers to bypass the blockade if necessary..“We have a full emergency lane,” said Friesen, adding he and other organizers have complied with all requests from the RCMP..“They can travel right through. We’ve had a lane open the whole time. If anyone is hearing otherwise, it’s the mainstream media spreading misinformation.”.But Peters said Friesen’s statement is “completely false.”.“They have completely restricted access in both lanes on either side,” said Peters..“I am appealing to them to let traffic resume and we are continuing to work on it to resolve the situation with the least about of intervention as possible.”.On Sunday evening, Friesen said the RCMP was “really happy the way we are working with them,” and said he and other organizers have been in “constant communication” with on-site RCMP officers..Friesen said he’s been told RCMP has blocked the highway at Milk River and is no longer letting anyone through. He also said he has heard dozens of Lethbridge officers are on route to the blockade..UCP MLA and Minister of Transportation Rajan Sawhney took to Twitter Monday morning to call on protesters to reopen the Coutts border..“I’m hearing between 50-100 Alberta truckers have been stranded on the US side since Saturday,” tweeted Sawhney..“Some haven’t eaten, others have medical issues. Everyone has the right to protest peacefully, but our supply chain and the livelihoods of those trying to cross the border should not suffer because of that.”.Alberta Premier Jason Kenney also condemned the blockade in a statement released on Twitter early Sunday afternoon..In the tweet, Kenney said the blockade at the Coutts border is in violation of the Alberta Traffic Safety Act. .“It is causing significant inconvenience for lawful motorists and could dangerously impede movement of emergency service vehicles,” tweeted Kenney..“The blockade must end.”.More to come….Melanie Risdon is a reporter with the Western Standard.,.mrisdon@westernstandardonline.com
The blockade at the Coutts border in protest of vaccine mandates has now been deemed illegal by RCMP..Despite earlier reports from on-site RCMP that protesters were exercising their right to engage in peaceful protest, the Alberta RCMP sent out a message on social media Sunday night calling the event unlawful..“The Alberta RCMP continue to act to preserve the peace and maintain public safety at the Coutts border crossing,” said the tweet..“Extensive efforts have been taken to engage with all stakeholders in the hopes that a peaceful resolution can be reached. We are working with truck drivers who are attempting to disengage from this event so that they are able to do so; however, current conditions have traffic immobilized..“The Alberta RCMP will use only the level of intervention necessary to ensure the safety of all citizens and to maintain peace, order, and security. Our goal is to facilitate lawful and peaceful protest,” continued the tweet..“When an event becomes unlawful we utilize a measured approach, which ultimately includes enforcement. This event is unlawful and we are asking those who are involved to clear the area.”.The statement said while the Alberta RCMP recognizes citizens have the right to “peaceful assembly and freedom of expression,” local residents, businesses and the general public “also have the right to a safe environment and freedom of movement.”.RCMP Cpl. Curtis Peters said the protest is unlawful due to the blockage of Hwy. 4..“It’s unlawful to block off a highway according to the Alberta Traffic Safety Act and there are some unintended consequences happening as a result,” said Peters..The corporal added the village of Coutts supplies fire services to the Montana town of Sweet Grass, and the blockade is preventing all cross-border access..Peters also said the local bus driver responsible for transporting children to schools in Milk River told him Sunday night they would not be attempting to get through the blockade although organizers said they have been clear they will aid in making sure school buses and emergency vehicles can pass..“The school bus hasn’t been able to come to Coutts today,” said Peters, who added he doesn’t believe preventing children from attending school is the right thing to do..Principal Rachelle Miller from the Horizon School Division in Milk River confirmed students who bus in from Coutts and the surrounding area did not arrive at school this morning..“The organizers were pretty vocal about making sure the bus would have a way through the blockade and they said they didn’t want to impact the children from not being able to attend school, so I am not sure what happened,” Miller told the Western Standard..“It would have been a decision from First Student, the busing company contracted for our school division. But as I understood it, they (protesters) were going to make sure any buses could get through.”.When the Western Standard tried to contact First Student for comment, their main Calgary number as well as the local contact provided by the Horizon School Division reached a recorded message stating the person is “not taking calls at the moment.”.Nick Friesen, one of the protest organizers, told the Western Standard he and other organizers ensured there is access for buses and emergency vehicles to travel in either direction. He also indicated there’re other gravel roads accessible to get out of Coutts and for truckers and other travellers to bypass the blockade if necessary..“We have a full emergency lane,” said Friesen, adding he and other organizers have complied with all requests from the RCMP..“They can travel right through. We’ve had a lane open the whole time. If anyone is hearing otherwise, it’s the mainstream media spreading misinformation.”.But Peters said Friesen’s statement is “completely false.”.“They have completely restricted access in both lanes on either side,” said Peters..“I am appealing to them to let traffic resume and we are continuing to work on it to resolve the situation with the least about of intervention as possible.”.On Sunday evening, Friesen said the RCMP was “really happy the way we are working with them,” and said he and other organizers have been in “constant communication” with on-site RCMP officers..Friesen said he’s been told RCMP has blocked the highway at Milk River and is no longer letting anyone through. He also said he has heard dozens of Lethbridge officers are on route to the blockade..UCP MLA and Minister of Transportation Rajan Sawhney took to Twitter Monday morning to call on protesters to reopen the Coutts border..“I’m hearing between 50-100 Alberta truckers have been stranded on the US side since Saturday,” tweeted Sawhney..“Some haven’t eaten, others have medical issues. Everyone has the right to protest peacefully, but our supply chain and the livelihoods of those trying to cross the border should not suffer because of that.”.Alberta Premier Jason Kenney also condemned the blockade in a statement released on Twitter early Sunday afternoon..In the tweet, Kenney said the blockade at the Coutts border is in violation of the Alberta Traffic Safety Act. .“It is causing significant inconvenience for lawful motorists and could dangerously impede movement of emergency service vehicles,” tweeted Kenney..“The blockade must end.”.More to come….Melanie Risdon is a reporter with the Western Standard.,.mrisdon@westernstandardonline.com
