Local MP, MLAs voice support for protestors, concern over border blockade

By KENDALL KING, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter on February 1, 2022.

kking@medicinehatnews.com

Local MP Glen Motz and MLAs Michaela Frey and Drew Barnes continue to voice support for truck drivers protesting vaccination mandates following the Freedom Convoy’s arrival in Ottawa.

“I do support the peaceful, law-abiding approach to this and what they’re doing,” Motz told the News on Monday. “They’re good, self-less, salt-of-the-earth people that have strong beliefs and they should not be ostracized, criticized or have our Prime Minister stand and give them, basically, hate speech that says you’re misogynist, racist or extremist because you don’t believe what he (does).”

Motz, who had just finished speaking at the Freedom Convoy rally in Ottawa when the News spoke with him, came under fire online over a statement he made in 2020 denouncing cross-country blockades of pipeline and rails in support of the Wet’suwet’en First Nation territory. As of Monday morning, Motz had yet to release a statement denouncing a blockade at the U.S.A./Canada border crossing at Coutts, which has been in place since Saturday.

“Do I support the individuals at Coutts right now? Yes, I do. Do I support that they are closing the border? No, I don’t,” said Motz.”I support the truckers being able to protest. I do not support in any way that our trade and travel is further locked down because of truckers blocking that particular crossing or any crossing. That detracts from the message… Blocking a major trade route is not something that helps any of us.”

The News asked Motz if he planned to publicly denounce protesters attempting to block the Coutts border crossing.

“(My team) haven’t decided exactly what we’ll do. We were hopeful those who were organizing it, those who are the authorities there, will be able to have some conversation with the group and have some reasonable conversation and I will try to let them do that, and it’s something we’ve considered but we haven’t determined exactly whether, or when, or whether we should do that just yet.”

Two-and-a-half hours later, Motz released a statement.

“I support the right of Canadians to peacefully and lawfully protest. However, the demonstration responsible for closing the Coutts border crossing is hurting Canadians, including farmers and small businesses who rely on international trade… I do not support the organizers’ decision to block the Coutts border crossing. You can protest without shutting down trade routes.”

The News also reached out to local MLAs for their stance on the Freedom Convoy.

“I think I was pretty clear,” said Michaela Frey. “I was on Facebook the morning of the convoy saying that on my way to Brooks, I pulled over and was waving at some of the truckers passing by. I think it’s really impressive to see the amount of grassroots action that’s been taking place the last few weeks, especially the last couple of days.”

When asked if she supported the Freedom Convoy specifically, Frey responded, “I am in support of the truckers who are protesting the vaccine mandates for carrying goods across the border that are detrimental to our supply chain.”

In regards to the ongoing blockade at the Coutts border – the only 24-hour port of entry into Alberta – Frey said she disagrees with the blockade but hadn’t yet been able to voice her disapproval as she hadn’t yet had a chance to speak to the media.

“I think there are two different issues at play there,” Frey told the News. “First of all, there are people who are supporting the Freedom Convoy who are at Coutts, but I don’t think that’s the equivalent of supporting an illegal blockade. I understand this is a nuanced position, however, obviously, we need emergency vehicles to get through. Any kind of a blockade of a public roadway would violate the Traffic Safety Act, so we need people to make sure they are allowing – even in their protests, even in their anger – they’re allowing emergency services to pass through (and) allowing trucks to be able to move freely on the roadway.”

Cypress-Medicine Hat MLA Drew Barnes told the News he believes protesters at Coutts have positioned themselves in a manner which allows for one lane to remain open and emergency vehicles to pass through.

In a statement released Monday, he wrote: “I fully support the recent protests by truckers on both sides of the border against unnecessary vaccine mandates… Of course, I encourage everybody to obey the law and from what I have seen and heard, the protesters have made an effort to ensure first responders and emergency vehicles can get to where they need to go. That’s a good thing and it reflects well on those taking part in this protest.”

Barnes has been a public supporter of the Freedom Convoy since it passed through Medicine Hat on Jan. 24.

“I support the wider protests by the truckers, and all Albertans and all Canadians against the unnecessary vaccine mandates.” Barnes told the News.

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