Two men faced consequences for their involvement in the Coutts border blockade during the 2022 protests against COVID-19 measures.
LETHBRIDGE: So, here’s the scoop. Two guys from Alberta got hit with sentences for their part in that big Coutts border protest back in 2022. One of them, Marco Van Huigenbos, is doing four months in jail, while Gerhard Janzen is on community service for three months.
In court, it was pretty quiet. The judge, Justice Keith Yamauchi, made it clear that their actions really messed with a lot of people’s lives. He said the blockade was a big deal and that they needed to face the music for it.
Yamauchi pointed out that the guys thought they were doing something good, but taking over a highway isn’t the way to go about it. He called it a serious case of mischief. As they left the courtroom, you could feel the tension. Some folks in the crowd even shouted supportive messages to Marco.
Janzen seemed genuinely sorry for what he did, but Marco didn’t show much emotion. They both got convicted for causing a ruckus that held up traffic for two weeks while protesting COVID rules and vaccine mandates.
There was supposed to be a third guy, Alex Van Herk, getting sentenced too, but he’s still looking for a lawyer. During the trial, the police said these guys were basically the face of the protest, trying to negotiate with the authorities.
The Crown wanted a tougher sentence, saying it was important to send a message that breaking the law has consequences. They argued that political motivations shouldn’t excuse their actions.
Van Huigenbos’s lawyer tried to argue that he was just trying to make his voice heard, but the judge wasn’t buying it. Janzen, on the other hand, admitted that their actions had unintended consequences for the local community.
After the verdict, the lawyers had mixed feelings. Janzen’s lawyer was relieved he avoided jail time, while Van Huigenbos’s lawyer was disappointed with the four-month sentence. It’s a tough situation, and it’s clear that the protests stirred up a lot of emotions across Canada.
In the end, about 300 people showed up at the court, eager to see what would happen. It’s a wild story that’s still unfolding.
