Cory Morgan: Is Applying the Full Force of the Law Against Organizers of the Coutts and Ottawa Protests Justice or Vengeance?

Gerhard Janzen arrives at the courthouse in Lethbridge, Alberta, on April 16, 2024. Janzen is one of three men accused of orchestrating the border shutdown at Coutts in 2022. The Canadian Press/Jeff McIntosh

Commentary

The conviction of the Alberta men known as the Coutts Three doesn’t bode well for Tamara Lich and Chris Barber, who are facing similar charges for the protests in Ottawa in 2022. The term “mischief,” which the three were found guilty of, understates the gravity of the potential penalties. Alex Van Herk, Marco Van Huigenbos, and Gerhard Janzen could face sentences as long as 10 years for their roles in the border blockade in Coutts, Alberta, in February 2022.