We now live in a country where jailing protesters is not a big deal--as long as those protesters are not protesting for something the media and ruling classes (but I repeat myself) actively support.
If these were BLM or LGBTQRSTABCD+-x÷ protesters being jailed it would be front page of the Star and there would be outcry until they were released.
But for a working class white male, all you hear is crickets. This summer I suppose you'll hear cicadas too. But no outcry. Only bugs.
Another very important podcast. Thanks Trish for interviewing Marco. We live in a politically cherry picked policing and legal environment. Back in 2020, from early January until mid-March, protesters blocked freight and passenger rail lines, shutting down rail service in Canada for a dozen weeks. BC Ferry sailings were disrupted on-and-off, pipeline construction was halted and a highway in Ontario was blocked. But throughout that protest, the Prime Minister maintained that dialogue was important. I don't think any protesters were charged.
The protests after the NYT reported mass graves in Kamloops in late May 2021, sparked protests that burned down dozens of churches, toppled statues of John A. MacDonald, Queen Victoria and more. But was anyone charged?
As Marco Van Huigenbos states, it was illegal to block traffic on Alberta Highway 4 (intermittently) from January 29 to February 15/22. But what is the message to Canadians when the application of the law is so changeable? Charges and arrests for one instance of illegal activity at the Coutts Blockade, but no arrests and charges at multiple protests where (as in Jan-March 2020 example) damage and destruction of property takes place, and rail service, highway travel and ferry sailings are suspended or interrupted?
So far, the Crown are not attempting to charge all the people protesting at the Coutts Blockade. While in Ottawa, key persons who were in communication with Ottawa Police Service officers - Tamara Lich and Chris Barber - are also on trial. Is the message: go to a protest if you must, but don't volunteer to act as liaison with police in an attempt to keep lines of communication open between the police and the crowd?
I think Marco's acknowledgment that closing down a highway is illegal, and his wrestling with a "not guilty" plea, was very candid. I don't know what the future holds for civil disobedience in Canada.
Back in the 1990s, out where I live in British Columbia, environmental protesters stopped logging trucks from going into Clayquot Sound. It came to a head when 856 protesters were arrested (on one occasion) who were opposed to clearcut logging of the old growth forest. It was a big international media story
Over 11,000 protesters came to Clayquot Sound in the summer of 1993 to protest, and 5,000 residents of Tofino and Ucluelet, who worked in the logging industry and felt that the 1993 protests threatened their livelihood, protested in favor of 'responsible' logging.
In total, 932 people were arrested at Clayquot Sound, and 860 were prosecuted in eight trials. The range of jail terms was a suspended sentence (for most), all the way up to six months in jail. Fines ranged from $250 to $3,000.
Contrast the Clayquot Sound protests and trials, with the prosecution of Freedom Convoy protesters in Coutts, Ottawa and Windsor.
Very interesting perspective, much of which is new to me.
Perhaps we need to have a review of the Judges instruction to the Jury. The law is the law, and a lawless society is scary, but a way to hold governments to account for unjust action or enforcement of the law is also required. If the law is being unjustly used, Juries need to be able to return that verdict.
We have a "Lawfare" problem and it is global. Just look at what is happening in Brazil right now with a judge who is completely out of control. In that situation, there has been a complete role reversal, with the victim of Lawfare under Bolsonaro, Lula, now it is his Judiciary that is engaging in Lawfare.
It does not take much imagination to see where this all ends up. Chaos!
People do things out of moral choices and don't realize they are breaking laws. Premier Smith is actually a good example. She collected money from people on Locals for one cause and ended up giving the money to another cause completely. Now under the law, that's considered fraud, but she would be the first to tell you that wasn't her intent.
Thank you for this interview, as I was not aware of this particular case.
I recall a murder trial involving a young indigenous man in Saskatchewan in 2018. PM Trudeau stuck his nose into it when the jury did not convict the accused (in other words, the outcome was not to PMJT's liking). Trudeau was deservedly criticized for his comments at that time.
Maybe I misunderstand, but despite Marco Van Huigenbos's work as an activist to change the leadership for the better in Alberta, Premier Smith may be (wisely) choosing to stay away from what will almost certainly be seen as judicial interference by her NDP opponents?
That said, I wish all the best to Mr Van Huigenbos.
Thanks TW for giving Marco such an important platform in such a timely way. His observations about UCP politics, then and now, was particularly interesting to me. I have been attending the Lethbridge trial of the Coutts 4/Coutts 2 with a particular focus on the cloud of suspicion over Crown Prosecutor Stephan Johnston. Here's my most recent essay where I try to set in context the larger significance of the ongoing agenda to criminalize the most important oppositional intervention to the Trudeau government in its history.
History repeats itself. We don’t seem to learn from the past and it takes a strong individual to stand up against power. I respect all those that do. I respect Jody Wilson Raybould speaking truth to power. It feels like we are living in the dark ages.
It is quite incredible the grace with which Marco has accepted the verdict, yet remaining steadfast in his principle of morality versus legality. I don't know if you heard Premier Smith's response to the verdict but it was disappointing to say the least. All about how she opposes any protest where the law is broken. That's fine, except that other protests where the law is broken, like when indigenous groups were burning tires on train tracks in protest of something, I can't remember what is was, no one was charged and certainly no one went to jail. It would seem it is only certain types of protest where the legality of what the protesters are doing becomes an issue.
We now live in a country where jailing protesters is not a big deal--as long as those protesters are not protesting for something the media and ruling classes (but I repeat myself) actively support.
If these were BLM or LGBTQRSTABCD+-x÷ protesters being jailed it would be front page of the Star and there would be outcry until they were released.
But for a working class white male, all you hear is crickets. This summer I suppose you'll hear cicadas too. But no outcry. Only bugs.
He should run for Premier when it's done.
God bless this man.
Thank you for this interview Trish.
I agree with him, the government has become God for many.
Another very important podcast. Thanks Trish for interviewing Marco. We live in a politically cherry picked policing and legal environment. Back in 2020, from early January until mid-March, protesters blocked freight and passenger rail lines, shutting down rail service in Canada for a dozen weeks. BC Ferry sailings were disrupted on-and-off, pipeline construction was halted and a highway in Ontario was blocked. But throughout that protest, the Prime Minister maintained that dialogue was important. I don't think any protesters were charged.
The protests after the NYT reported mass graves in Kamloops in late May 2021, sparked protests that burned down dozens of churches, toppled statues of John A. MacDonald, Queen Victoria and more. But was anyone charged?
As Marco Van Huigenbos states, it was illegal to block traffic on Alberta Highway 4 (intermittently) from January 29 to February 15/22. But what is the message to Canadians when the application of the law is so changeable? Charges and arrests for one instance of illegal activity at the Coutts Blockade, but no arrests and charges at multiple protests where (as in Jan-March 2020 example) damage and destruction of property takes place, and rail service, highway travel and ferry sailings are suspended or interrupted?
So far, the Crown are not attempting to charge all the people protesting at the Coutts Blockade. While in Ottawa, key persons who were in communication with Ottawa Police Service officers - Tamara Lich and Chris Barber - are also on trial. Is the message: go to a protest if you must, but don't volunteer to act as liaison with police in an attempt to keep lines of communication open between the police and the crowd?
I think Marco's acknowledgment that closing down a highway is illegal, and his wrestling with a "not guilty" plea, was very candid. I don't know what the future holds for civil disobedience in Canada.
Back in the 1990s, out where I live in British Columbia, environmental protesters stopped logging trucks from going into Clayquot Sound. It came to a head when 856 protesters were arrested (on one occasion) who were opposed to clearcut logging of the old growth forest. It was a big international media story
Over 11,000 protesters came to Clayquot Sound in the summer of 1993 to protest, and 5,000 residents of Tofino and Ucluelet, who worked in the logging industry and felt that the 1993 protests threatened their livelihood, protested in favor of 'responsible' logging.
In total, 932 people were arrested at Clayquot Sound, and 860 were prosecuted in eight trials. The range of jail terms was a suspended sentence (for most), all the way up to six months in jail. Fines ranged from $250 to $3,000.
Contrast the Clayquot Sound protests and trials, with the prosecution of Freedom Convoy protesters in Coutts, Ottawa and Windsor.
Very interesting perspective, much of which is new to me.
Perhaps we need to have a review of the Judges instruction to the Jury. The law is the law, and a lawless society is scary, but a way to hold governments to account for unjust action or enforcement of the law is also required. If the law is being unjustly used, Juries need to be able to return that verdict.
We have a "Lawfare" problem and it is global. Just look at what is happening in Brazil right now with a judge who is completely out of control. In that situation, there has been a complete role reversal, with the victim of Lawfare under Bolsonaro, Lula, now it is his Judiciary that is engaging in Lawfare.
It does not take much imagination to see where this all ends up. Chaos!
People do things out of moral choices and don't realize they are breaking laws. Premier Smith is actually a good example. She collected money from people on Locals for one cause and ended up giving the money to another cause completely. Now under the law, that's considered fraud, but she would be the first to tell you that wasn't her intent.
Thank you for this interview, as I was not aware of this particular case.
I recall a murder trial involving a young indigenous man in Saskatchewan in 2018. PM Trudeau stuck his nose into it when the jury did not convict the accused (in other words, the outcome was not to PMJT's liking). Trudeau was deservedly criticized for his comments at that time.
Maybe I misunderstand, but despite Marco Van Huigenbos's work as an activist to change the leadership for the better in Alberta, Premier Smith may be (wisely) choosing to stay away from what will almost certainly be seen as judicial interference by her NDP opponents?
That said, I wish all the best to Mr Van Huigenbos.
Stay strong Marco! You are a great person,who is fighting for justice in this country! This was a wonderful podcast!👏👏👍👍🇨🇦🇨🇦
Thanks TW for giving Marco such an important platform in such a timely way. His observations about UCP politics, then and now, was particularly interesting to me. I have been attending the Lethbridge trial of the Coutts 4/Coutts 2 with a particular focus on the cloud of suspicion over Crown Prosecutor Stephan Johnston. Here's my most recent essay where I try to set in context the larger significance of the ongoing agenda to criminalize the most important oppositional intervention to the Trudeau government in its history.
https://anthonyjhall.substack.com/p/canadas-freedom-convoy-will-survive
History repeats itself. We don’t seem to learn from the past and it takes a strong individual to stand up against power. I respect all those that do. I respect Jody Wilson Raybould speaking truth to power. It feels like we are living in the dark ages.
It is quite incredible the grace with which Marco has accepted the verdict, yet remaining steadfast in his principle of morality versus legality. I don't know if you heard Premier Smith's response to the verdict but it was disappointing to say the least. All about how she opposes any protest where the law is broken. That's fine, except that other protests where the law is broken, like when indigenous groups were burning tires on train tracks in protest of something, I can't remember what is was, no one was charged and certainly no one went to jail. It would seem it is only certain types of protest where the legality of what the protesters are doing becomes an issue.