One Alberta man gets jail, another community time for 2022 Coutts border protest
CTV
Two Alberta men have been sentenced for their roles in the illegal Coutts border blockade in 2022.
One Alberta man has been sentenced to jail and another ordered to serve community time for their roles in the illegal Coutts border blockade in 2022.
Marco Van Huigenbos was sentenced to four months in jail Friday and Gerhard (George) Janzen received a three-month sentence, which is to be served in the community. Janzen was also ordered to complete 100 hours of community service by the end of his sentence.
Neither accused showed emotion and spectators packing the courtroom stayed silent as Justice Keith Yamauchi delivered the sentence in Lethbridge Court of King's Bench. He had ordered both men to leave the tables with their lawyers and sit inside the prisoner box. Both men surrendered their phones and wallets.
Yamauchi told the pair the illegal blockade affected the lives of many Canadians and said, "The sentence must make it clear that the majority of Canadians denounce their actions."
"The protesters and offenders thought they had a legitimate cause. They undertook the vigilante approach of taking over Highway 4 until their demands were met. This is a significant case of mischief and a period of incarceration is warranted," Yamauchi said.
As the two men left the courtroom, Van Huigenbos's lawyer handed over his client's phone and a single coin to a family member.
One person in the crowd said "Bye Marco." Another added "I love you Marco. God bless."
