Court grants immediate injunction on Beltline protests in Calgary against public health measures

The City of Calgary has been granted a temporary court injunction to help address protests in the city's Beltline area against public health measures.

An Alberta Court of Queen's Bench justice granted an immediate injunction that will address protests in the Beltline and elsewhere in Calgary, the city said in an emailed statement.

The injunction prohibits ongoing violations of existing bylaws and legislation, and reinforces and clarifies enforcement authority.

The injunction prohibits blocking traffic on roads and sidewalks, walking in the middle of roadways, preventing vehicles and pedestrians from lawfully passing by or accessing amenities in the area, without authorization or permit. 

It also prohibits conducting activity in a park that unreasonably disturbs the use or enjoyment of the park for other users of the park, or hosting an event or using an amplification system in a park without a permit, and commercial activity within a park. It also applies to the unnecessary sounding of horns or other audible warning devices. 

However, community protests and events are still allowed to occur if they comply with bylaw requirements and secure appropriate permits, the city said. 

Read the temporary court injunction: 

The right to peaceful protest does not give people the right to violate the Criminal Code of Canada, King said, which is where the injunction comes in, said Doug King, professor of justice studies at Mount Royal University

"What this injunction does is it basically affirms that, but also now is a really important warning shot to the people who are engaged in these kinds of protests that there are legal consequences for what's happening," King said.  

"There are consequences for breaking the law while engaged in a peaceful protest." 

Violating a court order is a Criminal Code offence, King says, which could lead to six months incarceration, plus the potential of a $5,000 fine.

King, who lives near the area, says since the Coutts border blockade and simultaneous protests in Ottawa, the Beltline demonstrations have become increasingly aggressive. 

Protests in Calgary against COVID-19 public health restrictions started nearly two years ago.

They have continued in the Beltline and Central Memorial Park each week, despite the fact that most of the province's mandates have been lifted. In recent weeks, counter-protesters have started demonstrating in the area at the same time.