'We're not going anywhere': Alberta border protesters won't move to new site
Yesterday
COUTTS, Alta. — Alberta RCMP officers were met with anger and chants of "Hell no, we won't go" Wednesday as they attempted to persuade protesters camped at a United States border crossing to move to another location.
"We're not going anywhere. There's going to be more coming," said Keith Alexander, who was among dozens of truck drivers and their supporters on the highway north of the Coutts crossing and near the town of Milk River.
"I'm here for my kids and I guarantee 90 per cent of the people that are here are here for the same reason. The cops are telling us we've got to move to a more convenient location over there.
"No, no, no, no."
Demonstrators set up a blockade at the crossing late last month in solidarity with similar ones in Ottawa and other cities to protest a federal COVID-19 vaccine mandate for cross-border truckers and other public health measures.
They had agreed to keep one lane of Highway 4 open in each direction, but there have been closures a number of times. On Tuesday night, several tractors again shut down the highway.
RCMP Supt. Roberta McKale said a field had been secured for protesters on the south edge of Milk River.
"End of story — they've got to go. This site is unsafe. We can't have this continue on. And people have to make decisions that are good for themselves and good for society," McKale said.
"There are consequences for that. If it's a ticket, it's a ticket," she said. "People are coming here knowing this is illegal. That is a decision that they're making."
McKale said vehicles are lining the highway and people are camping in ditches. Firepits that have been set up pose a risk and people are wandering onto the highway at night not wearing reflective equipment.
Some were also playing ball hockey on the road, she added.
McKale said officers were trying to persuade protesters to move and tickets were a good possibility. An RCMP spokesman said later Wednesday that officers had started issuing tickets.
"Eventually people are going to have to make some decisions about where they want to protest. We are providing them a legal site down the road."
Ed Miedema drove nine hours from Barrhead, Alta., to join the blockade. He said he expected a tense situation but found a laid back, small-town atmosphere.
"We came to support the people that are here and to show our frustration with the state of our nation," he said.
"You cannot restrict my right to drive down the highway to see my fellow Albertans and my fellow Canadians."
Brad Rabusic, from nearby Taber, Alta., said he was thrilled to join the protest and wasn't going to leave.
"They're just trying to move you further and further away from the border. I never thought I'd be doing this … camping out on a highway, but here I am."
The Alberta government announced Tuesday that it was scrapping its COVID-19 vaccine passport requirement starting Wednesday. Other public health measures, including a mask mandate, are to be lifted March 1.
For many of the protesters, it wasn't enough.
"We're here for the big picture. It started with the border thing. It started with (Prime Minister Justin) Trudeau, and until Trudeau moves, we don't move," said John Vanreeuwyk, a feedlot operator from Coaldale, Alta.
Vanreeuwyk said he's grateful for the steps that Premier Jason Kenney has taken, but is angry that people still have to wear a mask.
"Overall it's disappointing," he said.
"We've got guys here — they've lost everything due to these mandates. They're not giving up and they're willing to stand their ground and keep going until this is done.
"The harder the politicians push, the larger this is going to get."
Public Safety Minister Marco Mendicino acknowledged Wednesday the situation at the Coutts border crossing had again deteriorated, and he called for the disruption to end.
"This blockade of Alberta's most important link to the U.S. has already cost the province's economy hundreds of millions of dollars. The North American agricultural sector is highly integrated with everything from feed to meat to live animals crossing the border in both directions and most of it is at Coutts," he said during a news conference.
"The Coutts-Sweetgrass crossing is the only one between Winnipeg and Vancouver with the capacity to handle many of these goods, which support thousands of jobs across Western Canada."
Emergency Preparedness Minister Bill Blair added that the law must be upheld.
"Truckers who have kept our shelves stocked with the pandemic are currently being blocked or slowed down while carrying essential goods into our country and from our factories to their markets. These truckers, who have been heroes throughout the pandemic, are by being unlawfully stopped and impeded from doing their jobs," he said.
"As a result of their actions, their unlawful actions, to block our highways leading into our ports of entry with the United States, they're essentially putting their foot on the throat of all Canadians. They're cutting off essential supply lines and goods and services."
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Feb. 9, 2022.
— With files from Jim Bronskill in Ottawa.
Bill Graveland, The Canadian Press
COUTTS, Alta. — Alberta RCMP officers were met with anger and chants of "Hell no, we won't go" Wednesday as they attempted to persuade protesters camped at a United States border crossing to move to another location.
"We're not going anywhere. There's going to be more coming," said Keith Alexander, who was among dozens of truck drivers and their supporters on the highway north of the Coutts crossing and near the town of Milk River.
"I'm here for my kids and I guarantee 90 per cent of the people that are here are here for the same reason. The cops are telling us we've got to move to a more convenient location over there.
"No, no, no, no."
Demonstrators set up a blockade at the crossing late last month in solidarity with similar ones in Ottawa and other cities to protest a federal COVID-19 vaccine mandate for cross-border truckers and other public health measures.
They had agreed to keep one lane of Highway 4 open in each direction, but there have been closures a number of times. On Tuesday night, several tractors again shut down the highway.
RCMP Supt. Roberta McKale said a field had been secured for protesters on the south edge of Milk River.
"End of story — they've got to go. This site is unsafe. We can't have this continue on. And people have to make decisions that are good for themselves and good for society," McKale said.
"There are consequences for that. If it's a ticket, it's a ticket," she said. "People are coming here knowing this is illegal. That is a decision that they're making."
McKale said vehicles are lining the highway and people are camping in ditches. Firepits that have been set up pose a risk and people are wandering onto the highway at night not wearing reflective equipment.
Some were also playing ball hockey on the road, she added.
McKale said officers were trying to persuade protesters to move and tickets were a good possibility. An RCMP spokesman said later Wednesday that officers had started issuing tickets.
"Eventually people are going to have to make some decisions about where they want to protest. We are providing them a legal site down the road."
Ed Miedema drove nine hours from Barrhead, Alta., to join the blockade. He said he expected a tense situation but found a laid back, small-town atmosphere.
"We came to support the people that are here and to show our frustration with the state of our nation," he said.
"You cannot restrict my right to drive down the highway to see my fellow Albertans and my fellow Canadians."
Brad Rabusic, from nearby Taber, Alta., said he was thrilled to join the protest and wasn't going to leave.
"They're just trying to move you further and further away from the border. I never thought I'd be doing this … camping out on a highway, but here I am."
The Alberta government announced Tuesday that it was scrapping its COVID-19 vaccine passport requirement starting Wednesday. Other public health measures, including a mask mandate, are to be lifted March 1.
For many of the protesters, it wasn't enough.
"We're here for the big picture. It started with the border thing. It started with (Prime Minister Justin) Trudeau, and until Trudeau moves, we don't move," said John Vanreeuwyk, a feedlot operator from Coaldale, Alta.
Vanreeuwyk said he's grateful for the steps that Premier Jason Kenney has taken, but is angry that people still have to wear a mask.
"Overall it's disappointing," he said.
"We've got guys here — they've lost everything due to these mandates. They're not giving up and they're willing to stand their ground and keep going until this is done.
"The harder the politicians push, the larger this is going to get."
Public Safety Minister Marco Mendicino acknowledged Wednesday the situation at the Coutts border crossing had again deteriorated, and he called for the disruption to end.
"This blockade of Alberta's most important link to the U.S. has already cost the province's economy hundreds of millions of dollars. The North American agricultural sector is highly integrated with everything from feed to meat to live animals crossing the border in both directions and most of it is at Coutts," he said during a news conference.
"The Coutts-Sweetgrass crossing is the only one between Winnipeg and Vancouver with the capacity to handle many of these goods, which support thousands of jobs across Western Canada."
Emergency Preparedness Minister Bill Blair added that the law must be upheld.
"Truckers who have kept our shelves stocked with the pandemic are currently being blocked or slowed down while carrying essential goods into our country and from our factories to their markets. These truckers, who have been heroes throughout the pandemic, are by being unlawfully stopped and impeded from doing their jobs," he said.
"As a result of their actions, their unlawful actions, to block our highways leading into our ports of entry with the United States, they're essentially putting their foot on the throat of all Canadians. They're cutting off essential supply lines and goods and services."
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Feb. 9, 2022.
— With files from Jim Bronskill in Ottawa.
Bill Graveland, The Canadian Press
Calgary street church minister incited protesters to continue border blockade, prosecutor tells court
Kevin Martin - Yesterday
But Johnston, who appeared in court via video from the border crossing, said the Calgary minister implored the truckers and others blocking the border crossing to stay.
“Pawlowski told the crowd that millions of people had to die to end the world wars … to get freedom,” Johnston said.
“Pawlowski said that there were not enough RCMP officers to deal with them and there was not enough army to deal with them.”
The prosecutor said the reference to police and the army indicated “he’s not talking about any kind of peaceful protest at that time.
“He’s clearly, in the context of his speech, referencing to the notion that there would be some sort of violence.”
Johnston said despite negotiations to leave “the mood of the people changed and they decided to stay at the blockade.”
During his speech Pawlowski referred to the blockade as “our Alamo,” a comment Johnston called an overt threat to commit violence.
“On the video … he makes reference to the fact that for freedom to be preserved, in Mr. Pawlowski’s view, people must be willing to sacrifice their lives.”
But the minister didn’t stay to maintain the protest.
“Following the speech, from my understanding of the situation, Mr. Pawlowski got into his BMW and drove to Calgary leaving the protesters behind,” Johnston said.
But defence counsel Chad Haggerty, who argued Pawlowski doesn’t pose a danger to the public and should be released, said his client was simply exercising his Charter rights to free expression and association when he spoke to the protesters.
And Haggerty said his client was just as likely to be charged with inciting them if he suggested they abandon the blockade and head to Edmonton to protest.
Haggerty said Pawlowski had no more sway over the blockade than anyone else.
“That protest is still going on. It began before Mr. Pawlowski went to Coutts. It continued on after he left,” the lawyer said.
Olsen will decide next week whether Pawlowski will be freed pending trial.
KMartin@postmedia.com
On Twitter: @KMartinCourts
After inciting protesters not to abandon an international border blockade even if it meant arrest, street church minister Artur Pawlowski hopped into his luxury vehicle and drove home to Calgary, a prosecutor charged Wednesday.
Kevin Martin - Yesterday
Calgary Herald
© Provided by Calgary Herald
© Provided by Calgary Herald
Calgary's Artur Pawlowski joins the rally as authorities dealt with a new roadblock on Highway 4 and 501 outside of Milk River heading towards the Coutts border crossing. Protesters were letting trucks through on one lane on Thursday, February 3, 2022.
Crown lawyer Steven Johnston said Pawlowski should be kept behind bars on three charges, including committing mischief by inciting others to prevent the lawful use of the border crossing.
Johnston told Lethbridge provincial court Judge Erin Olsen that Pawlowski, 48, went to the protest at Coutts, on the U.S.-Alberta border, last Thursday and spoke to a group of protesters.
The prosecutor said Pawlowski’s speech, which was video recorded and posted online, was made after organizers had agreed to shut down the blockade and move their protest to Edmonton for the weekend.
Crown lawyer Steven Johnston said Pawlowski should be kept behind bars on three charges, including committing mischief by inciting others to prevent the lawful use of the border crossing.
Johnston told Lethbridge provincial court Judge Erin Olsen that Pawlowski, 48, went to the protest at Coutts, on the U.S.-Alberta border, last Thursday and spoke to a group of protesters.
The prosecutor said Pawlowski’s speech, which was video recorded and posted online, was made after organizers had agreed to shut down the blockade and move their protest to Edmonton for the weekend.
But Johnston, who appeared in court via video from the border crossing, said the Calgary minister implored the truckers and others blocking the border crossing to stay.
“Pawlowski told the crowd that millions of people had to die to end the world wars … to get freedom,” Johnston said.
“Pawlowski said that there were not enough RCMP officers to deal with them and there was not enough army to deal with them.”
The prosecutor said the reference to police and the army indicated “he’s not talking about any kind of peaceful protest at that time.
“He’s clearly, in the context of his speech, referencing to the notion that there would be some sort of violence.”
Johnston said despite negotiations to leave “the mood of the people changed and they decided to stay at the blockade.”
During his speech Pawlowski referred to the blockade as “our Alamo,” a comment Johnston called an overt threat to commit violence.
“On the video … he makes reference to the fact that for freedom to be preserved, in Mr. Pawlowski’s view, people must be willing to sacrifice their lives.”
But the minister didn’t stay to maintain the protest.
“Following the speech, from my understanding of the situation, Mr. Pawlowski got into his BMW and drove to Calgary leaving the protesters behind,” Johnston said.
But defence counsel Chad Haggerty, who argued Pawlowski doesn’t pose a danger to the public and should be released, said his client was simply exercising his Charter rights to free expression and association when he spoke to the protesters.
And Haggerty said his client was just as likely to be charged with inciting them if he suggested they abandon the blockade and head to Edmonton to protest.
Haggerty said Pawlowski had no more sway over the blockade than anyone else.
“That protest is still going on. It began before Mr. Pawlowski went to Coutts. It continued on after he left,” the lawyer said.
Olsen will decide next week whether Pawlowski will be freed pending trial.
KMartin@postmedia.com
On Twitter: @KMartinCourts
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