Letter shows Alberta asked for feds’ help with Coutts blockade as Kenney claims province had resources
Global News
Ric McIver penned a letter on Feb. 5 to the federal Minister of Public Safety and the Minister of Emergency Preparedness.
Roughly a week after protesters started to gather in large numbers at the Coutts border crossing, Alberta’s minister of municipal affairs sought assistance from Ottawa, Global News has learned.
The letter obtained by Global News shows Ric McIver penned the piece on Feb. 5 to both Minister of Public Safety Marco Mendicino and Minister of Emergency Preparedness Bill Blair.
“As you are aware, Alberta is currently experiencing significant issues with the free movement of vehicles and supplies in southern Alberta with direct impacts to our largest border crossing with the United States,” the letter stated.
During the first week of February, RCMP were unsure when protesters were going to leave as a second blockade, further up Highway 4, had also started to grow.
“Despite our best efforts to resolve this ongoing issue, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police have exhausted all local and regional options to alleviate the weeklong service disruptions at this important international border,” the letter read.
The letter said it was a collaborative effort by RCMP along with local and provincial officials to try and persuade the protesters to remove their vehicles — but that effort proved to be unsuccessful.
McIver also pointed out due to “negative consequences,” Mounties were unable to secure the proper equipment to remove the trucks, trailers and tractors that were stationed in the area.
“Attempts to procure these services with providers from across the western provinces and the United States have failed,” the letter said.
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