(file photo/CHATNewsToday)

By Tiffany Goodwein

‘This blockade must end:’ Premier Kenney urges end to Coutts blockade

Jan 30, 2022 | 2:33 PM

COUTTS,AB– Premier Jason Kenney says the blockade at the Coutts border crossing is a violation of the Alberta Traffic Safety Act and it must come to an end.

The premier made the statement in a Tweet Sunday afternoon.

” It is causing significant inconvenience for lawful motorists and could dangerously impede the movement of emergency service vehicles. This blockade must end,” he said.

Kenney noted that Canadians have a democratic right to participate in protests, and he urged last week for those participating in the convoy to do so safely and not create road hazards.

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Kenney says operational enforcement decisions are the responsibility of the police and enforcement at the border is a federal responsibility. He noted Alberta’s Critical Infrastructure and defence act “gives police and prosecutors additional penalties to levy as a tool to address blockades of highways and other infrastructure,” he said.

Kenney’s response comes nearly an hour after opposition leader Rachel Notley denounced the blockades and called on the premier to take further action.

In a tweet, Alberta RCMP says traffic is still at a standstill, and no motor vehicles are able to access the border for entry or re-entry.

The Convoy in Coutts was in support of the larger Freedom Convoy in Ottawa.

Premier Kenney also took to Twitter to denounce images of hate from the Ottawa convoy in a series of Tweets.