UCP denies reports of rural caucus negotiating with blockade protestors after lanes opened in 'good faith'
CBC
There has been a potential breakthrough aimed at resolving the impasse in a protest blockade that has snarled cross-border traffic at the main United States border crossing in southern Alberta.
Chad Williamson, a lawyer representing truckers blocking access to the crossing at Coutts, Alta., says they have spoken with RCMP and agreed to open a lane of the highway in each direction.
Trucks and other vehicles have begun clearing paths.
"The truckers finally feel like their message has been heard," Williamson said Wednesday.
"In a tremendous show of good faith, they are reopening one lane each way to provide unimpeded access through the town of Coutts and across the border in both ways.
"That doesn't mean the protest is over, but it signals what we hope to be ongoing cordial efforts to address the concerns of the people who have been involved in the movement down here in Coutts."
The demonstration started on Saturday, and is tied to an ongoing, nationwide protest over federal rules for unvaccinated or partially vaccinated truckers entering Canada from the U.S. The rules took effect Jan. 15.
The United States implemented a similar mandate on Jan. 22 requiring that all U.S.-bound travellers — including truckers — show proof they've had the required shots.
The tie-up has stranded travellers and cross-border truckers for days, compromising millions of dollars in trade and impeding access to basic goods and medical services for area residents.
A protester told CBC News that the lanes were cleared after blockade participants were told that there will be attempted negotiations involving MLAs to loosen COVID-19 public health restrictions on Wednesday afternoon.
"I don't know all the details exactly, but from my understanding … if they don't get what they want, they're gonna block it off again. If they drop all the mandates, then they'll continue to negotiate," the protester said.
Police tried to peacefully break up the demonstration Tuesday, only to see others breach a nearby police barricade and join the blockade. Later, a head-on collision occurred, resulting in an assault, police said.
No arrests were made but the RCMP's Cpl. Curtis Peters said they intend to "restore the movement of goods and vehicles on the road, but not at the risk of public safety."
"Obviously enforcement is not the way that anyone wanted this to go," Williamson said.