Protest continues at Coutts on 7th day as traffic flows slowly to U.S. border

Lanes to the U.S. border near Coutts, Alta., opened and closed intermittently Friday as an ongoing protest continued to affect traffic in the area.

Early Friday afternoon, protesters moved in to block southbound traffic on Highway 4 leading to the border. One protester at the blockade told CBC News that the latest move was a result of not enough progress being made on the group's goal to lift pandemic mandates.

RCMP previously confirmed the blockade on one side of the highway. For a while, traffic was being stopped at Milk River, Alta.

On Thursday, protesters had said they planned to vacate the border and move north to Edmonton, but that night they reversed the decision and stayed put.

The demonstration is tied to an ongoing protest over federal rules for unvaccinated or partially vaccinated truckers, which took effect Jan. 15.

The Alberta blockade is being held in solidarity with similar protests in Ottawa and other locations.

Jim Willett, the mayor of Coutts, said he has met with truckers who have been there for almost a week.

He said he paid a visit Thursday — and again Friday — to a former saloon in the village where protest leaders have gathered.

He said he expected to find a room of angry people but instead found they were just waiting.

He said protesters have made their point and need to leave his village soon.

Premier's Facebook live

Speaking during a Facebook live broadcast held late Thursday, Premier Jason Kenney said he did not say that truckers assaulted RCMP officers during a news conference held earlier in the week. 

The premier added he had received a situation report from the Alberta Ministry of Justice and Solicitor General on Tuesday afternoon, produced by RCMP officers in the field, who testified to being swarmed by protest sympathizers. 

Those officers, the premier said, had threats made against them by protesters and had their barricades charged by vehicles. There was also an attempt to ram officers on the scene, which was narrowly avoided.

In addition, the same protesters collided with other motorists on the highway, with assault ensuing from that, Kenney said.

"I absolutely characterized what happened there, at that barricade, accurately," Kenney said. "All I can say is, shame on those responsible. You shouldn't blame me, or the RCMP, or anyone else, for the dangerous and unlawful conduct of these individuals."

During Tuesday's press conference, Kenney did refer to an instance of assault of an RCMP officer alongside the attempted ramming of a police vehicle and the collision with a civilian vehicle. 

"I have also received reports in the last hour of people allied with the protesters assaulting RCMP officers," he said at the time.

Meanwhile, Alberta NDP justice critic Irfan Sabir attacked the premier Friday and said he appears to be pandering to the protesters by saying he has a plan to ease restrictions to be announced next week.

"There was no action taken by this government … go to the court, get the injunction and let RCMP do their thing," Sabir said.