Town councillor charged in Coutts border blockade resigns
By Medicine Hat News on February 16, 2024.
@MedicineHatNews A man charged with mischief for organizing the Coutts border blockade in 2022 has resigned as a town councillor in Fort Macleod. Marco Van Huigenbos stated in a letter of resignation delivered Monday that he will step down from the elected position to concentrate on his upcoming trial. “In the near future I face significant challenges, both personal and legal,” it reads. “These challenges may indirectly cast our community and my role on council in a negative light. In consideration of this and my own personal convictions, I have made the difficult decision to resign.” Van Huigenbos, Alex Van Herk, both of Fort Macleod, and George Janzen of Taber, were all charged with mischief over $5,000 for their part organizing the highway stoppage to protest COVID-related health mandates that lasted three weeks in 2022. A three-week judge and jury trial is scheduled to take place in Lethbridge starting on April 2. Van Huigenbos, a town councillor since 2017, also served as the financial officer for “Take Back Alberta,” a conservative political action group, but stepped down last summer. A byelection date to fill the vacant municipal position is expected to be announced on Feb. 26. with files from the Lethbridge Herald 10-9
