By: Thomas I. Likness
Eagle News Service

(Eagle News) — The blockade of a busy Canada-U.S. border crossing in the western Canadian province of Alberta shows no sign of ending soon.

Truckers and farmers began blocking access to the crossing with their rigs and farm implements.

The border has been effectively shut down four days, frustrating truckers hauling goods to both countries.

On Tuesday afternoon, police tried to end the blockade, telling people they would be arrested unless they left the area.

A few protesters heeded the warning.

But further up the highway, more vehicles ran a police barricade to join the protest, forcing police to retreat.

Premier Jason Kenney says he was told protesters attempted to ram police officers.

“This kind of conduct is totally unacceptable,” Kenney told a news conference Tuesday. “Assaulting law enforcement officers who are simply doing their job to maintain public safety and the rule of law is completely unacceptable.”

Keeney says there are about 100 people involved in the protest which began Saturday.

Police say they have tried to negotiate with the demonstrators to no avail.

“We have been engaged with protesters at the Coutts border crossing in an effort to find a peaceful and safe resolution for all involved,” RCMP said Tuesday on Twitter. “We thought we had a path to resolution, the protesters eventually chose not to comply.”

Dozens of truckers have been stranded in both countries unable to get to their destinations.

Some have taken alternate routes, but that adds time and expense to their runs.
(Eagle News Service)