Notley argues Coutts blockade needs to end

By Lethbridge Herald on February 7, 2022.

Herald photo by Dale Woodard A truck in an anti-mandate convoy is greeted by a small group of supporters Saturday afternoon along Mayor Magrath Drive.

Alejandra Pulido-Guzman – Lethbridge Herald

Alberta NDP Leader Rachel Notley is calling on the UCP government to take immediate action to end the blockade near Coutts after 10 days of illegal protests.

“My message is simple, it’s time for this lawlessness to end. It’s time for every Albertan to be able to move around their communities safely and to spend time with their family in peace,” said Notley during a press conference Monday. 

She added that it is time for people and goods to be able to move freely across the border. 

Notley said there were events both at Calgary and Edmonton over the weekend that harmed small businesses and caused incredible stress for seniors, for families, for families with small children and many Albertans who are simply trying to go about their lives.

“Almost exactly two years ago the premier and his ministers had a lot to say about blockades… their very first bill of the legislative session was a law that supposedly prevents this from happening in Alberta,” said Notley. 

Notley said on the very first full day at the legislature in 2020, the UCP government introduced a motion to ‘unequivocally denounce the illegal blockading of Canada’s core infrastructure including railways, pipelines, ports, and roadways’ and called for the law to be enforced without delay. 

“Now let me be very clear about something, the right to peaceful assembly and peaceful protest is absolutely essential to our democracy, the right to gather peacefully in the streets and bring your message to the government is a sacred one. I participated in many such demonstrations myself,” said Notley.  

She said that is why she opposed and continues to oppose the UCP’s Critical Infrastructure Defence Act, and she believes what is happening in Alberta today is not peaceful assembly. 

Protestors affiliated with the convoy took to the streets in both major cities over the weekend, leading to reports of harassment and hate speech against health care workers as well as protestors harming small businesses. 

“Health care workers, for heaven sakes, were harassed as they arrived at their jobs to save lives. That’s not a peaceful demonstration,” said Notley.  

The blockade is now backing up Alberta supply chains, inhibiting an estimated $44 million dollars of economic activity every day.

“It’s time this UCP government remembered that these laws apply to everyone even if you happen to want their vote in a leadership review,” said Notley. 

She said she fully understands that politicians do not direct law enforcement, however political leaders can ensure that law enforcement has all their resources and legal tools they need to get the job done.

Notley said the UCP has refused to take the step they proposed last week, to seek an injunction from the courts to disperse the blockade.

“Leadership also means using your voice. It’s time for UCP leadership to come out of hiding and denounce this illegal blockade with the same passion that their caucus members have displayed in support of it,” said Notley. 

She said the UCP cabinet is surrendering in slow motion to those who are illegally blockading the highway at Coutts. 

“I am calling on this UCP government—before they announce any changes to public health policy—to begin by upholding the rule of law and disperse these illegal blockades. When it is time to announce changes to public health measures, Albertans must be provided with an exhaustive presentation of all the data and all of the professional public health advice those decisions are based on,” said Notley. 

She pointed out that 10 days ago the Premier said the evidence pointed to restrictions being lifted towards the end of March, but in the intervening time since the blockade began, that became later this month of February and in fact some UCP caucus members suggest it’s just a matter of days and it could be this week. 

“Albertans must be completely certain that this timeline is driven by their best interests and the science that supports that conclusion, not the threat of people engaged in illegal activity,” said Notley. 

She said that in the possibility of the UCP government using the fact that other provinces are lifting restrictions to do it in Alberta, Notley said every province is different. 

“In BC there’s not a situation where they’re being bullied in any significant way like we are in Alberta, or where you’re seeing government caucus members align with the statements of illegal blockaders,” said Notley. 

She said moreover, the situation in BC is different as their hospitalization rate is lower and in fact their fatality rate is too. 

“They’ve just never been at the level that we have been in Alberta, so they’re in a slightly different position. An enviable position I would argue, in terms of perhaps being able to move a little bit faster,” said Notley. 

And when it comes to Saskatchewan Notley said “we’ll see who ends up being the first to capitulate to the blockaders between Saskatchewan and Alberta.” 

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