Emerson border open for business; convoy rolls away

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This article was published 15/02/2022 (1044 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

HIGHWAY 75 NEAR EMERSON — Truckers hauling loads destined for the United States and everyday travellers slowly approached the Emerson border crossing Wednesday morning, around the time RCMP said the anti-mandate blockade of dozens of big rigs and tractors had promised to disperse.

They waited patiently to cross the border, stretching a kilometre back from Highway 75 and Provincial Road 243 in whiteout conditions. RCMP monitored the scene as the convoy departed and snow plows cleared the highway where the blockade had been camped out since Feb. 10 as it choked off $70 million in daily trade between the two countries.

Starting at noon, Mounties escorted the anti-COVID-19 mandate protesters from the site after negotiating a truce with organizers one day earlier.

RCMP Sgt. Paul Manaigre called it a “perfect solution” because no one had been arrested or injured. No tickets were issued and no vehicles were towed. That was part of the agreement reached with organizers after the federal Liberal government enacted the Emergencies Act this week to shut down such protests, including at border crossings in Coutts, Alta., and at the Ambassador Bridge in Windsor, Ont.

“The way the situation was developing here, we needed to take a prudent and safe measure (in the approach), and here we are,” Manaigre told reporters who gathered near the port of entry.

“They wanted to get their message across, which I believe they have, and we wanted to make sure they understood where we were coming from. At some point, our enforcement might have been needed, but machines are running, they’re warming up and in a short time they’ll be on their way.”

The area, about two kilometres north of the border, was in whiteout conditions with winds of up to 60 kilometres per hour, whipping snow across the barren fields, drifting onto the highway.

At least 75 pieces of farm equipment, semi-trailer trucks and personal vehicles slowly drive north toward Highway 14, under the RCMP’s lead.

Farm equipment carried placards and Canadian flags on their buckets. Many signs read: “mandate freedom.” A sign on a gravel truck read: “Trudeau for prison.” A sign on a pickup truck said: “Mainstream media all fake news.”

Some hauled camper trailers or agricultural equipment.

At the turnoff to Altona, a mother and child waved at the trucks as they held a large banner with a caricature of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.

“Farmers and truckers expose dictatorship,” the banner said.

In an alert, the Canada Border Services Agency announced the port of entry had reopened to travellers and commercial traffic.

“We thank you for your patience and for helping us to minimize the impact of this border service disruption,” the alert read.

Officers will remain in the area to ensure the highway and the border remain open, RCMP said.

Some agricultural and other critical trade had been allowed through, along with emergency vehicles, but otherwise all four lanes of Highway 75 were blocked. Officers negotiated with blockade organizers since the beginning.

Manaigre said RCMP are focused on “today” in response to a question about whether the police force is confident the blockade won’t set up again, but noted they have learned from the situation.

Manaigre noted there had been no indication organizers had planned to get violent, and the group didn’t have weapons, unlike the protest in Alberta.

“You have to take that into consideration, (but) there’s been no information to suggest that was a possibility,” he said. “But it’s part of our planning, our contingency.”

At the blockade at the Coutts border crossing, RCMP discovered a heavily armed group. Officers arrested 13 people and seized firearms and ammunition there Monday. The blockade disbanded Tuesday.

Four charges of conspiracy to commit murder were laid, in addition to 14 charges of possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose, one charge of uttering threats and 14 charges of mischief over $5,000.

erik.pindera@freepress.mb.ca

Erik Pindera
Reporter

Erik Pindera reports for the city desk, with a particular focus on crime and justice.

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