EDMONTON — Alberta cabinet minister Doug Schweitzer says he wants answers from a fellow caucus member who attended a truckers protest that has been snarling traffic at the United States border.
“I’m disappointed that Grant Hunter made the decision to go there and participate in that illegal blockade,” Schweitzer said.
“This is going to be an issue that our caucus needs to talk about.”
Schweitzer said he looks forward to hearing Hunter’s reasons for going to the Coutts crossing on the Alberta-Montana border on the weekend.
Hunter, the legislature member for Taber-Warner, posted a picture Saturday on Facebook with family members at the protest.
“I brought the grandkids down to the Coutts border today to show them the importance of standing up for freedom and liberty,” Hunter wrote in the post.
It was not clear if the highway was fully blocked at that time.
Hunter could not be reached for comment, but said in a statement Monday that he supports the convoy but is against blockades.
“It’s time to let kids be kids. It’s time to let parents freely attend their kids’ sports games. It’s time to let families and friends gather for weddings and funerals without limits or restrictions. It’s time to treat all Albertans equally. In short, it's time to get back to normal,” wrote Hunter.
“That being said, a peaceful protest is not a blockade that stops people from moving freely, and so I ask those who are blocking the Coutts border crossing to let people through.”
The truck convoy continued to impede access at the crossing Monday. Officers were telling U.S.-bound travellers to use a different crossing until the impasse is resolved.
The convoy was one of a number of such protests in Canadian towns and cities on the weekend mirroring one on Parliament Hill in Ottawa to protest the federal government's COVID-19 measures.
Premier Jason Kenney has criticized the blockade on Twitter, but added it’s up to local authorities to enforce provincial legislation, which allows for additional penalties against protesters blockading highways and other critical infrastructure.
Schweitzer said the bill was passed by Kenney’s United Conservative government early in its mandate to deal specifically with blockades such as the one at Coutts.
“That was the intention of the bill,” said Schweitzer. “It’s up to law enforcement on the ground to make those strategic decisions as to how they implement the law.”
The Opposition NDP said it’s time Hunter be expelled from caucus and added that there are other UCP caucus members abusing the public trust by fighting or flouting COVID-19 health measures.
“I can’t believe I have to say this, but an elected member of the legislative assembly must not prevent essential goods from entering our province and block emergency vehicles from attending to Albertans in need,” said transportation critic Lorne Dach, referring to Hunter.
Health critic David Shepherd also called for UCP backbencher Shane Getson to be fired from caucus. Getson, on Facebook, voiced support for the trucker convoys, called for an end to vaccine mandates for cross-border drivers, and urged that the QR code that allows for electronic verification of vaccine status be scrapped.
Getson warned that supply chain disruptions could lead to the Armed Forces being needed to airlift in basic goods for consumers and said history suggests such disruptions lead to popular revolutions.
“Let them eat cake. That (statement) ring any bells?” wrote Getson, referring to the popularized quote from the French Revolution.
“This is dangerous and irresponsible language from an elected official," said Shepherd.
“Mr. Getson cannot be permitted to spread anti-vaccine misinformation and fearmonger about serious food shortages while supporting an illegal border blockade.”
Getson could not be immediately reached for comment.
Angela Pitt, deputy speaker of the house and a UCP caucus member, said on Facebook last week that Alberta’s vaccine mandates need to be scrapped.
On Monday, the NDP announced they had filed a complaint about Pitt. They said a member of their team had observed Pitt walking around the Federal Building without a mask.
“Pitt’s behaviour is a violation of the legislature’s policy, which is clearly indicated in signs throughout the building. We have reported the incident to the Speaker’s Office,” the New Democrats wrote in a statement.
Pitt could not be immediately reached for comment.
The Federal Building, a short walk from the legislature, is where backbench and Opposition government members and their staff work.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Jan. 31, 2022.
Dean Bennett, The Canadian Press
Note to readers: This is a corrected story. A previous version said Hunter went to the Alberta-Manitoba crossing.
