ISSUE/SOURCE: Protests and partial blockades near the border crossing at Coutts, Alberta, continue.
SUGGEST RESPONSES
- The RCMP respects and protects the right to peaceful demonstrations as guaranteed under the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms.
- At the same time, the RCMP will respond to unlawful acts, including through enforcement as appropriate.
- The RCMP employs a measured approach that involves proactive engagement, communication, and facilitation measures by police to support lawful and peaceful protest in an environment safe for protesters, members of the public, and stakeholders, while seeking to protect the fundamental freedoms of peaceful assembly and expression.
- The level of police intervention that is applied in any situation is done so in the context of a careful risk assessment that accounts for the likelihood and extent of potential injury and damage to property.
- The RCMP’s priority is to preserve the peace, protect life and property, and enforce the law.
BACKGROUND
As of February 5, 2022, at the main site in Coutts, a single lane of travel is open in each direction allowing for restricted movement of traffic. Delays in crossing the border are reported to be three hours. At the main site in Coutts, 28 semi-trucks lined the northbound side of the highway, and 24 are lining the southbound lanes. At checkpoint 10, north of the main site on the highway, the amount of protesters remains fluid. At last count, there were 50 commercial vehicles, 40 tractor trailers and an unknown amount of passenger vehicles. The protesters at the checkpoint continue to challenge the RCMP. At the checkpoint 5, just east of the main site, approximately 50 people have staged a protest. The protesters at the main site continue to be active and unpredictable, and the situation is fluid. The need for heavy equipment to clear the highway of vehicles still exists and will be critical for any enforcement action. Traffic is flowing, slowly, through the border crossing in both the north and south lanes. The RCMP’s Consultative Conflict Management Group (CCMG) continues to maintain communication with the organizers.
The Port of Coutts operates 24 hours a day, and is the largest port of entry in Alberta. Hundreds of commercial and personal vehicles travel through this major thoroughfare on any given day. There are border crossings located at Coutts, Del Bonita, and Carway, Alberta. Coutts is the only 24-hour crossing.
The area of highest concern remains the blockade near the Coutts border crossing and surrounding area. Highway 4 to and from the Canadian side of the border crossing is partially blocked. The unlawful blockade is being controlled by splinter groups and no longer constitutes a peaceful assembly. A Highway is considered essential infrastructure. It is unlawful to wilfully obstruct, interrupt or interfere with the construction, maintenance, use or operation of any essential infrastructure in a manner that renders the essential infrastructure dangerous, useless, inoperative or ineffective as per the Critical Infrastructure Defence Act of Alberta. Contraventions of other applicable legislation may also be enforced.
The organizers of the Coutts protest have distanced themselves from the splinter groups.
The CCMG continues trying to engage protest participants; however, the engagement from the organizers has diminished and the splinter groups have not been receptive to any options regarding movement of any part of the blockade. The splinter groups have engaged in limited communications, however, have not cooperated in opening the roadway to border traffic.
Alberta RCMP is assessing the ongoing situation and mobilizing resources that may be required. The RCMP continues to monitor and respond to the situation as required, including social media accounts. Social media posts have been put out from the Alberta RCMP Twitter and Facebook accounts for public safety, activity and comments on both feeds have increased dramatically. There is an ongoing need for consistent messaging among federal agencies. The RCMP has the lead in this operation at this time.