Notley accuses Kenney of pandering to protesters, Alberta set to announce plan to lift restrictions this week
Lisa Johnson - Tuesday
Lisa Johnson - Tuesday
Edmonton Journal
© Provided by Edmonton Journal
© Provided by Edmonton Journal
Alberta NDP Opposition Leader Rachel Notley calls for the UCP government to put an end to illegal protests against COVID-19 mandate in Alberta, Feb. 7, 2022.
As Alberta’s government prepares to launch a plan to lift COVID-19 restrictions, NDP Opposition Leader Rachel Notley is accusing Premier Jason Kenney of being bullied by disruptive protests across the province.
Notley said at a Monday news conference the UCP cabinet is “surrendering in slow motion” and she’s “deeply disturbed” by the government’s response to those who have been clogging the highway at the Coutts border for 10 days.
“It’s time for this lawlessness to end,” Notley said, calling again for the government to seek a court injunction to disperse the blockade. Kenney said last week he was prepared to seek an injunction. But he said it wasn’t necessary for police to begin enforcement, instead calling for calm from those involved with or sympathetic to the blockade.
Notley’s call comes after Kenney said in late January the province would lift public health restrictions at the end of March , beginning with the province’s vaccine passport, but last week the UCP announced it would speed up that timeline by more than a month . The move has prompted some health experts to urge caution and question what data supports lifting restrictions sooner, given the high number of hospitalizations across the province.
Notley said she supports public health measures coming to an end soon, but the government must be transparent about the scientific advice behind the plan, suggesting Kenney is trying to shore up votes for an upcoming United Conservative Party leadership review slated for early April.
“The sight of an elected government being bent to the will of criminals should be a grave concern to everyone regardless of their political beliefs,” said Notley.
In a Monday statement, Kenney’s press secretary Justin Brattinga said the government respects lawful protests, but the blockade at the Coutts border crossing is illegal, causing major inconveniences for other motorists, and could dangerously impede emergency services.
“This blockade must end,” he said, adding it is at the discretion of police to enforce the law.
In an interview with Postmedia Friday , Kenney said the government will be publishing a plan for opening early this week because the province has passed its peak of Omicron cases, denying that his cabinet is caving into the demands of protestors who want to see all vaccine mandates lifted.
“We want to do this cautiously, but moving forward with real intention to lift almost all restrictions throughout February,” said Kenney, adding his government has long been reluctant to bring in public health restrictions. On Monday, the Premier’s office did not provide a timeline for when the plan to lift restrictions would be made public.
Meanwhile, the RCMP has said it has “several” active investigations underway into protesters at Coutts.
Some protesters have said they’re prepared to stay for months, until both provincial and federal COVID-19 mandates are lifted.
Meanwhile, Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe has said his government will remove all COVID-19 measures by the end of February. He’s expected to announce the plan Tuesday.
In British Columbia, the government has said it’s looking at lifting r emaining restrictions, including a ban on organized gatherings like wedding and funeral receptions, with a review slated for Feb. 15.
— With files from Michael Rodriguez
lijohnson@postmedia.com
twitter.com/reportrix
As Alberta’s government prepares to launch a plan to lift COVID-19 restrictions, NDP Opposition Leader Rachel Notley is accusing Premier Jason Kenney of being bullied by disruptive protests across the province.
Notley said at a Monday news conference the UCP cabinet is “surrendering in slow motion” and she’s “deeply disturbed” by the government’s response to those who have been clogging the highway at the Coutts border for 10 days.
“It’s time for this lawlessness to end,” Notley said, calling again for the government to seek a court injunction to disperse the blockade. Kenney said last week he was prepared to seek an injunction. But he said it wasn’t necessary for police to begin enforcement, instead calling for calm from those involved with or sympathetic to the blockade.
Notley’s call comes after Kenney said in late January the province would lift public health restrictions at the end of March , beginning with the province’s vaccine passport, but last week the UCP announced it would speed up that timeline by more than a month . The move has prompted some health experts to urge caution and question what data supports lifting restrictions sooner, given the high number of hospitalizations across the province.
Notley said she supports public health measures coming to an end soon, but the government must be transparent about the scientific advice behind the plan, suggesting Kenney is trying to shore up votes for an upcoming United Conservative Party leadership review slated for early April.
“The sight of an elected government being bent to the will of criminals should be a grave concern to everyone regardless of their political beliefs,” said Notley.
In a Monday statement, Kenney’s press secretary Justin Brattinga said the government respects lawful protests, but the blockade at the Coutts border crossing is illegal, causing major inconveniences for other motorists, and could dangerously impede emergency services.
“This blockade must end,” he said, adding it is at the discretion of police to enforce the law.
In an interview with Postmedia Friday , Kenney said the government will be publishing a plan for opening early this week because the province has passed its peak of Omicron cases, denying that his cabinet is caving into the demands of protestors who want to see all vaccine mandates lifted.
“We want to do this cautiously, but moving forward with real intention to lift almost all restrictions throughout February,” said Kenney, adding his government has long been reluctant to bring in public health restrictions. On Monday, the Premier’s office did not provide a timeline for when the plan to lift restrictions would be made public.
Meanwhile, the RCMP has said it has “several” active investigations underway into protesters at Coutts.
Some protesters have said they’re prepared to stay for months, until both provincial and federal COVID-19 mandates are lifted.
Meanwhile, Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe has said his government will remove all COVID-19 measures by the end of February. He’s expected to announce the plan Tuesday.
In British Columbia, the government has said it’s looking at lifting r emaining restrictions, including a ban on organized gatherings like wedding and funeral receptions, with a review slated for Feb. 15.
— With files from Michael Rodriguez
lijohnson@postmedia.com
twitter.com/reportrix
COUTTS, Alta. — RCMP say removal of trucks and other vehicles from a protest in southern Alberta against pandemic restrictions is being hampered by towing companies that don’t want to help.
“Moving (massive) vehicles like these require special equipment and operators,” RCMP Deputy Commissioner Curtis Zablocki said Tuesday.
“Unfortunately (the towing companies contacted said) they were unwilling to become involved when it was implied that helping law enforcement with removal would likely damage their livelihoods into the future.”
Police facing a convoy of truck drivers and other supporters in Ottawa have reported similar reluctance from tow operators.
Zablocki said the protest snarling traffic at the Coutts border crossing is illegal, but the goal, for now, is to end it peacefully while keeping traffic and goods flowing as much as possible.
But Zablocki added: “We are investigating. There will be charges. And this does not end when the road is clear.”
The blockade at the Coutts border crossing began Jan. 29. Protesters in trucks, tractors and other vehicles tied up traffic in both directions and at times stopped it altogether. They are demanding an end to COVID-19 vaccine mandates for cross-border truck drivers as well as to other public health measures.
Demonstrators in Alberta and other Canadian cities have come out in sympathy with the original trucker convoy in Ottawa and, in recent days, set up at the crucial border crossing to Detroit at the Ambassador Bridge in Windsor, Ont.
Alberta Premier Jason Kenney has said he sympathizes with protesters but has condemned the illegal blockade.
Sonya Savage, acting justice minister, said the government is letting the RCMP handle the impasse, but noted the province has the power to pursue civil options, including an injunction and forfeiture.
“Property that is involved in the commission of a crime can be seized and forfeited to the Crown,” said Savage.
“Those are pretty expensive vehicles that are on the side of the road — tractors and other equipment — that could be seized and forfeited.”
Irfan Sabir, justice critic for the Opposition NDP, said Kenney’s United Conservative government needs to take action.
“The UCP still hasn’t applied to the courts for an injunction to clear the blockade,” said Sabir.
“Savage describes the situation as unlawful and intolerable, but refuses to take even this basic step to give the law enforcement all the legal resources they need.
“It’s clear the UCP is simply unwilling to uphold the rule of law if it damages Jason Kenney’s chance of surviving his leadership review.”
Kenney is facing low poll numbers, as well as a split in his caucus and party over the health restrictions, as he heads into a mandatory leadership review in April.
The blockade has stranded travellers and cross-border truckers for days, compromised millions of dollars in trade and impeded access to basic goods and medical services for area residents.
The situation has changed daily and sometimes hourly.
Last week, protesters agreed to open a single lane in each direction so that truckers could haul their loads across the border, but blocked all access Monday night before one lane was reopened early Tuesday.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Feb. 8, 2022.
The Canadian Press
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