MP Glen Motz slams use of Emergencies Act for blockades

By COLLIN GALLANT on February 16, 2022.

cgallant@medicinehatnews.com@CollinGallant

The MP representing the area around the Coutts border crossing says the situation was under control and the blockades have lifted without the need for emergency police powers now being sought by the federal government to break up future blockades and investigate potential illegal funding.

Medicine Hat-Cardston-Warner MP Glen Motz told the News on Tuesday he doesn’t know the details of an RCMP operation that uncovered a cache of weapons from a group at the border blockade.

He reiterated his stance that the situation is the result of “abject failure of the Liberal government” that is now overreaching with the Emergencies Act.

“(Main) organizers only wanted to get their message out … and I’m glad they’ve pulled up and ended the blockade,” Motz told the News. “I’m really struggling to see that this meets the criteria for invoking the Emergency Act.”

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced Monday he would attempt to implement the Emergencies Act to respond to protests at critical infrastructure points, such as Coutts, the Windsor-Detroit border crossing and around Parliament Hill.

That announcement came after an early morning police raid near the Montana border that saw 13 people arrested and rifles, handguns, body armour and ammunition confiscated.

The Liberals have to get the measure approved within seven days, and if so, cabinet would have additional powers to deploy RCMP resources to specific areas and level financial regulations on crowdfunding platforms, similar to other banks, while commercial carrier registrations may be revoked for protest participants.

Those actions would be subject to oversight of a Commons committee if the measure passes, though the NDP has said it will support the minority Liberals.

The Conservative Party has strongly stated its opposition to the use of the Emergencies Act. Motz says his position will depend on the case made by the government.

“We’ll have to see the details,” said the former Medicine Hat police inspector.

Statements from protest supporters point to an RCMP statement that suggests a small group was responsible for disturbance that led to weapons being seized.

Authorities are considering laying charges after a vehicle and piece of farm machinery were driven through an RCMP line narrowly missing an officer. Anti-hate groups in Canada have said insignia displayed on body armour seized is consistent with white supremacist movements.

Remaining protesters left the sites on Tuesday morning.

Motz says he supports the initial goals, but organized crime or hate groups can “highjack” protests for their own purposes.

“That’s always a challenge,” he said, when asked if police action is need to shield protesters from such groups. “The RCMP have done that and didn’t need the Emergency Act to do it at Coutts.”

Motz said he was one of three region’s MPs – along with Lethbridge MP Rachael Thomas and Foothills MP John Barlow – who visited the blockade over several weekends, though Motz was last there Feb. 5.

He says they met with police and elected officials from the nearby areas along with blockade organizers, at which point, he says he reiterated a stance that the protest could continue, but the highway should be open.

Motz repeated his position that the situation would have ended sooner and without the need for the Emergency Act if the government had simply answered the protesters demand of “lifting all mandates.”

“They should follow the science and the wishes of most of Canadians,” said Motz, citing a poll that suggests a majority of Canadians want provincial and federal governments to examine and ease health measures.

However, an Angus Reid poll on Feb. 13 found about two thirds of Canadians disagreed with both the goals or tactics of the protesters.

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