Rebel News Podcast - EZRA LEVANT ｜ While national media focuses on the truckers in Ottawa, let me tell you what’s happening in Coutts, Alberta

00:00:00.180 Hello, my Rebels. Today, we talk about the blockade at Coots, Alberta. That's a border

00:00:06.200 crossing between Alberta and Montana. Hundreds of truckers are holed up there blocking things.

00:00:11.820 They're surrounded by police. Police are starting to move in. We have two reporters embedded

00:00:17.520 in the group, and we'll talk about what they have to tell you. We'll go live to one of

00:00:22.360 them. That's on today's show. I really wish you could see the images. It's quite something.

00:00:26.440 Go to rebelnewsplus.com. Click subscribe. It's $8 a month. That's a bargain. I really

00:00:32.120 think that's underpriced. No disrespect. You get my show every day, Sheila Gunn-Reed's

00:00:37.420 weekly show. David Menzies is back. He'll have his weekly show. Andrew Chapados has a weekly

00:00:41.360 show, a new show by Nat and Katz of our team. So we're building up our offering. I'm really

00:00:47.880 excited about it. Go there to get the video version of this podcast. I want you to see

00:00:52.880 what's going down in Coutts. All right. Here's today's podcast.

00:00:55.800 Tonight, while the national media focuses on the truckers in Ottawa, let me tell you what's

00:01:19.340 happening in Coutts, Alberta. It's February 1st, and this is The Ezra Levant Show.

00:01:26.600 Why should others go to jail when you're a biggest carbon consumer I know?

00:01:30.300 There's 8,500 customers here, and you won't give them an answer.

00:01:34.360 The only thing I have to say to the government, the whole line of publishing, is because it's

00:01:38.780 my bloody right to do so.

00:01:46.040 Keep watching our coverage of the Trucker Convoy in Ottawa. We have three reporters on the ground

00:01:51.140 there. Lincoln, Alexa, and Guillaume from Quebec. And we're sending our friend David Menzies to Ottawa

00:01:57.460 too. He's back in action, doing great. He was on our live stream today, and he's excited about the

00:02:02.840 Convoy story. He's going to do great.

00:02:03.900 What's interesting, but no longer surprising, is how foreign coverage of Canada's convoy is so

00:02:11.300 different from Canadian media coverage of it. And I'm not just talking about foreign conservative

00:02:16.760 media, like Tucker Carlson. I don't know if you caught this short mention of us at Rebel News on

00:02:22.940 Tucker's show last night.

00:02:24.360 Watch this, one of the most humiliating scenes ever caught on tape.

00:02:28.720 What did it say? Sorry?

00:02:29.880 Okay. So it says, F your white nationalist agenda. 0.91

00:02:37.560 I am not a white. This is nothing to do about white. This is nothing to do with truckers. This is about 0.96

00:02:43.920 freedom for all of Canadians. You can be brown, black, white, blue, whatever color you want to be.

00:02:49.940 This is about freedom. And Trudeau has no right to put us in this condition of mandates throughout the country.

00:02:56.480 Children are not going to school. It's a terrible thing to do.

00:03:00.780 Oh, thank God for Rebel News. It may be. You think Fox is an anomaly in the United States.

00:03:05.960 How do you like to be Rebel News? Literally the only people in all of Canada who are playing it straight.

00:03:11.300 So there they are trying to tell you that some guy from the subcontinent is a white nationalist.

00:03:15.980 They're trying. They're trying hard. And now they have evidence. It's brought to you by CNN, naturally, working in tandem with the CBC.

00:03:24.740 Apparently, brace yourselves, there was a Trump sign in the crowd of truckers.

00:03:28.540 That was fun. But all sorts of other media in the United States and around the world, TV stations to websites.

00:03:36.260 I mean, even Breitbart.com did a story just about my speech to the truckers.

00:03:42.420 They really liked it. I liked it, too. And so did the truckers.

00:03:45.780 But of course, it wasn't going to be covered by the media, even if it was newsworthy.

00:03:51.080 I mean, I don't know if a speech from me is newsworthy.

00:03:56.440 Nearly one million viewers seem to think it was.

00:03:59.660 I think it might actually be the most watched speech of the trucker convoy, but it would never be covered by the media party in Canada because it's me.

00:04:09.080 And the media party dislikes me as much as I dislike them.

00:04:11.660 And secondly, even if they didn't know me from Adam, they would still hate my message.

00:04:18.020 They're all on the same plan.

00:04:20.520 Demonize the protesters. Big media, big government, they're all in it together.

00:04:23.300 There are a handful of counter examples.

00:04:26.400 Our friends at True North, our alumnus Kian Bextie.

00:04:30.200 There are some other independent citizen journalists.

00:04:32.780 I don't even know all of their names, of course.

00:04:36.120 But the media party is part of the establishment.

00:04:38.240 Never forget that.

00:04:40.160 So keep following our convoyreports.com for our news from Ottawa.

00:04:43.840 We're going to be there for at least another week.

00:04:46.580 We'll extend it if we need to.

00:04:47.700 But the news today is from Coutts, Alberta.

00:04:52.140 That is a small border crossing between Alberta and Montana.

00:04:56.780 And a sympathetic echo convoy mustered there.

00:05:01.660 American and Canadian truckers both upset about the forced vaccines.

00:05:06.760 It would end their business.

00:05:07.880 It would ruin commerce.

00:05:10.560 And most importantly, it would destroy their civil liberties, which I think is the most important part, don't you?

00:05:15.260 Now, there have been a lot of wonderful truckers I've gotten to know over the past week, if not in person, at least through their social media accounts.

00:05:24.260 This guy is for sure one of my favorites.

00:05:28.040 Hey, Mr. Trudeau.

00:05:29.540 In your last speech, you said that almost 90% of Canadians are vaccinated and they are very careful about their help and stuff like that, right?

00:05:39.160 Yes, maybe almost 90% of Canadians are vaccinated.

00:05:44.160 But have you ever asked them why are they getting vaccinated?

00:05:48.560 Go ask them if they're getting vaccinated because of the fear of your mandates or the fear of COVID.

00:05:54.740 You will know.

00:05:55.860 I'll tell you, in my circle, most of my friends are families.

00:05:59.680 They're getting vaccinated because of the fear of mandates to save their jobs or they have to fly to see their families back home.

00:06:08.320 All right.

00:06:09.220 Go ask them and you will know that why are 90% of Canadians are vaccinated.

00:06:15.220 Thank you so much.

00:06:16.440 He's so earnest.

00:06:17.580 He's so likable.

00:06:18.440 He's so real.

00:06:19.220 And he's defying the official narrative in his own way because he's Sikh and he's not alt-right white supremacist.

00:06:26.260 I don't think he cares about those slurs.

00:06:28.080 And speaking of fighting for freedom, look at this next guy.

00:06:30.740 He also happens to be Sikh too.

00:06:32.740 I think a lot of truckers are.

00:06:33.940 And maybe that makes me love him all the more because I have always believed that freedom and loving freedom is a human condition, not just for this race or that race.

00:06:43.720 I've always believed that everyone wants to be free.

00:06:47.240 When people say China's Confucian cultural mindset is for order and rules and obedience and hierarchy, I don't want to accept that.

00:06:57.180 I mean, you can point to Hong Kong and Taiwan as proof to the contrary.

00:07:02.880 Those are freedom-loving places.

00:07:04.640 I truly believe that every race, every human is meant to be free.

00:07:08.440 And I think they know it.

00:07:09.480 But sometimes the Liberal Party in Canada and the Democrats in the States seem to grab voters as soon as they immigrate here as a sort of implicit, I let you into the country, I'm a left-winger, so now vote left-wing with me as payment.

00:07:24.320 So to see this next guy with his smiling face so calmly and plainly use words like rights and freedoms and liberties, I don't know, maybe it was a combination of those words and his smiling face.

00:07:37.780 I literally want to hug this guy.

00:07:39.880 I would hug him.

00:07:41.040 He's like a Sikh Santa or something. 0.95

00:07:43.520 I love this guy in a very fraternal way.

00:07:45.600 How about you? 1.00

00:07:45.960 He is walking proof that Trudeau is a liar and a smear. 0.95

00:08:15.680 Okay, but back to Alberta, the border crossing of Cootes, truckers deciding to do something about it. 0.94

00:08:21.980 I mean, if they're going to be put out of business anyways, why not, right?

00:08:26.600 So they block the road.

00:08:28.820 Now, what do we make of that?

00:08:31.400 We're law-abiders here, aren't we?

00:08:34.040 I mean, I remember how we covered the railroad blockaders from two years ago.

00:08:38.700 Anti-oil protesters are putting thousands of Canadian jobs at risk and potentially bankrupting farmers, and Trudeau's liberals are ready to negotiate with these economic and eco-terrorists instead of supporting and enforcing the rule of law.

00:08:56.820 How are these truckers blocking the road different from those anti-foot types blocking the railway?

00:09:03.360 It's a good question and one to consider.

00:09:06.400 I have a few answers myself.

00:09:08.700 The truckers have their own answers.

00:09:10.260 I'll give you my answers, but first let me show you a few more facts before I comment on the facts.

00:09:15.740 So I'm going to show you a series of videos now, shot by Kian Simone and Sidney Fizzard, our two reporters on the scene.

00:09:24.560 Here's how it started.

00:09:25.520 You've already heard about the trucker convoy, but that's not just happening in Ottawa.

00:09:28.820 You see, that sparks something across the nation.

00:09:31.440 And right now, we've got a trucker convoy.

00:09:33.780 It's a slow roll, a Truckers for Freedom rally that's taking place at the border, stopping travel between Canada and the United States of Freedom Land.

00:09:42.300 Now, this is somewhat unprecedented and Jason Kenney himself has come out against these guys because they don't want to go through permanent medical procedures to live their daily lives.

00:09:53.060 So we're going to find out what happens.

00:09:55.100 We have K2 here behind the camera.

00:09:56.940 He's been going out there and tomorrow he's going to get some coverage of some of the guys here and to see some of the action that's been going on.

00:10:03.240 Because as we were walking through, there were barbecue pits, all sorts of stuff.

00:10:06.800 So these guys, they're digging their feet in right now.

00:10:09.540 They're not going anywhere until all of these mandates are lifted.

00:10:12.300 And we saw a sign on the way that would tell you exactly that.

00:10:15.740 So stay tuned.

00:10:16.900 We're going to bring you the other side of the story.

00:10:18.520 And let's go check out what this convoy looks like right now.

00:10:21.580 When it was clear that the police were coming with force, the men prayed.

00:10:26.440 I thought this was powerful.

00:10:27.940 In heaven, hallowed be thy name.

00:10:31.380 Thy kingdom come.

00:10:32.900 Thy will be done.

00:10:34.280 On earth as it is in heaven.

00:10:36.320 Give us this day our good bread.

00:10:38.560 Forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors.

00:10:40.820 Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.

00:10:44.420 For thine art, the kingdom, the power, and the glory, forever and ever.

00:10:48.200 Amen.

00:10:49.020 Amen.

00:10:49.500 Amen.

00:10:50.620 Amen.

00:10:51.820 The men had a discussion as a sort of town council.

00:10:54.800 And then they had a vote on what to do.

00:10:56.520 I'm with you.

00:10:58.900 There's no weakening, guys.

00:11:00.480 No weakening.

00:11:01.620 They can lead.

00:11:02.260 Keep that spirit.

00:11:03.100 But the only way I'm leading is in a cruiser.

00:11:06.240 Yes.

00:11:06.980 There you go.

00:11:07.440 I'm with you 100%.

00:11:08.900 That's right.

00:11:09.420 You know what?

00:11:09.820 Who's there?

00:11:10.500 So who's got to stay?

00:11:11.700 I'm scared.

00:11:12.240 I'm scared.

00:11:12.560 I'm scared.

00:11:13.760 I'm scared.

00:11:16.140 I'm scared.

00:11:17.740 I'm scared.

00:11:18.420 I'm scared.

00:11:19.000 Their tactics aren't.

00:11:20.200 We're surrounded.

00:11:21.080 Yes.

00:11:22.360 Yes.

00:11:23.500 It's all morale, Alex.

00:11:24.580 Keep up the morale.

00:11:26.120 We already started.

00:11:27.040 We got the ones that want to leave for me.

00:11:29.000 If you're worried about funds, then GoFundMe will pay the funds.

00:11:32.320 Oh, we have money.

00:11:33.340 Alex, they can issue us a ticket for a Highway Traffic Act.

00:11:37.680 That's all they can do.

00:11:38.920 Yeah.

00:11:39.340 Bring on the ticket.

00:11:40.400 You can do it, GoFundMe.

00:11:41.500 And they decided to stay.

00:11:43.240 They acknowledged it was going to end with the law coming for them.

00:11:47.380 One man said he knew he would only leave in a police car.

00:11:51.140 That's one of the differences between principled conscientious objectors, passive resistance,

00:11:56.080 civil disobedience, versus the anonymous saboteurs of railroad tracks who are really just looking

00:12:02.380 to derail a train and run away.

00:12:04.160 These men in coots, like Gandhi himself, knew they were breaking the rules and knew they would

00:12:11.140 be punished for it and decided that was fine.

00:12:15.400 The injustice of the laws was too much to bear passively or even consensually.

00:12:21.100 That saying nothing wasn't an option and that complying wasn't an option.

00:12:24.120 And so the morality of the universe required them to call themselves lawbreakers since the

00:12:29.600 law was so odious.

00:12:30.440 In this case, a new segregation, a new ghettoization, a new apartness, or as they would say in Afrikaans,

00:12:36.480 apartheid.

00:12:38.240 That's too much to accept.

00:12:40.300 And a ticket or a fine or a charge, even a criminal charge, was the price they would

00:12:44.040 pay and that by making the so-called justice system process them, the system itself would 0.99

00:12:49.880 be revealed to be wrong or broken and maybe it would therefore be amended.

00:12:55.220 That's what Gandhi did.

00:12:56.260 It only works in democracies, though.

00:12:58.320 So Stalin, Hitler, Mao, Xi Jinping, they would just kill or imprison Gandhi.

00:13:04.440 Only the British could be appealed to through their consciences. 0.98

00:13:08.760 That's what these truckers are hoping.

00:13:11.420 But it's not all for nothing.

00:13:12.780 It's interesting.

00:13:13.640 Arthur Pavlovsky has lost and lost and lost in court, by the way.

00:13:18.240 We've been there from every step of the way.

00:13:19.960 But is there a soul in the country who thinks that he has been diminished morally or illegally

00:13:25.920 by all of the rulings against him?

00:13:27.860 Isn't it sort of the opposite?

00:13:29.140 That by persecuting him so obviously, the government proves his point and that the respect

00:13:35.560 of the rule of law and the respect for police and the respect for the courts itself has been

00:13:40.800 diminished.

00:13:41.160 I think that is what has happened.

00:13:44.560 These truckers have decided to bear the price for their families, for us, too, for the children.

00:13:50.540 And it's not a random destruction like the eco-protesters, like the saboteurs.

00:13:55.400 It's not dangerous or malicious.

00:13:57.740 It's more akin to a wildcat strike by a union.

00:14:00.660 A wildcat strike is a strike against the collective agreement.

00:14:03.840 You're not supposed to do it.

00:14:05.100 But obviously, it's not to destroy the company, but to improve a problem or a grievance.

00:14:11.080 These truckers don't want to actually lock down cross-border traffic.

00:14:14.540 That's what Trudeau and Biden want to do.

00:14:17.400 These truckers want to be free to drive their trucks.

00:14:19.360 So their wildcat action, while temporarily reducing the flow, is actually meant to make

00:14:24.740 it free again.

00:14:27.020 I see that Jason Kenney is against it, which I suppose you have to be if you're the chief

00:14:30.660 lawmaker of a province.

00:14:31.700 I would only say that he seems to have locked down the province, not just businesses, but

00:14:37.480 people, too, churches, too, for two years.

00:14:40.740 I'm not sure if his lockdowns were more moral than this rogue lockdown.

00:14:46.200 And by the way, most of the lockdowns in Canada, under which we continue to labor, were not passed

00:14:51.700 in any parliament or even by some cabinet committee.

00:14:55.300 They were issued by some unknown public health official, unfireable, unaccountable, just some

00:15:00.260 high priest up on Mount Olympus sending down edicts.

00:15:03.720 It made me laugh when Perrin Beattie of some big business lobby group condemned the Ottawa

00:15:10.320 truckers for their two days of peaceful protest after two years of government lockdowns.

00:15:15.460 By the way, I didn't hear any concerns from Perrin Beattie about the Black Lives Matter protests

00:15:19.580 when they turned violent in many cities.

00:15:22.080 That's another difference.

00:15:24.460 No violence, no threats, allowing critical things to pass through.

00:15:29.040 As harmless as it can be, just conscientious objections like the wheat board farmers who

00:15:35.520 a generation ago sold their wheat across the border instead of selling it to Trudeau's

00:15:39.820 wheat board.

00:15:41.440 They were arrested and prosecuted and convicted and sentenced and jailed.

00:15:47.020 Were they really criminals?

00:15:48.000 I mean, they did break the law, they were jailed, but now they're regarded as heroes.

00:15:53.700 One went on to be a MLA in Alberta.

00:15:56.820 How will history judge these truckers and coots? 0.99

00:16:00.860 I don't know.

00:16:02.380 But I know that last night I got a phone call from them asking for help.

00:16:08.280 I got on the phone and a group of the men all got together on the speakerphone and they

00:16:12.380 asked if we could help them get a lawyer and would we crowdfund a lawyer for them.

00:16:17.540 And I said, yes, of course we would.

00:16:20.180 And so we did.

00:16:21.760 We set up a website, truckerlawyer.ca, and we put together some dough and we'll probably

00:16:27.980 need more.

00:16:28.980 It's going down right now.

00:16:31.140 We hired Chad Williamson.

00:16:32.380 You might remember him.

00:16:33.180 We've used Chad in the past.

00:16:34.840 He helped Chris Scott of the Whistle Stop Diner, who I shall also tell you, Chad won a

00:16:41.580 Rebel News case for us.

00:16:42.480 I don't remember.

00:16:43.200 He was our lawyer against Trudeau when Trudeau banned us from the leaders' debates in the

00:16:47.480 election.

00:16:47.900 So I called up Chad last night, late at night, and I asked him if he could drop everything

00:16:52.400 and get down to the border.

00:16:54.940 And he said yes.

00:16:55.860 And he brought another lawyer with him named Marty.

00:16:57.540 And here's the video of their arrival in Cooch today.

00:17:01.260 Thank you, Chad.

00:17:03.620 Hey, Chad Williamson.

00:17:04.920 How are you?

00:17:05.520 Doing well.

00:17:06.240 Nice to see you.

00:17:07.040 Nice to meet you.

00:17:07.740 Pretty chilly out today.

00:17:09.180 Well, as you are the man of the hour, you're the lawyer for the man of the hour.

00:17:11.700 What's brought you here?

00:17:13.200 So the amazing civil liberties initiative launched by the Rebel to get these guys some representation

00:17:22.660 and hopefully defuse the tense situation that we've got down here.

00:17:27.380 It's hot even though it's cold.

00:17:28.920 So we're going to try to bring some clarity to everything and try to see if we can bring

00:17:36.200 the parties together.

00:17:37.120 So that's your mission today.

00:17:38.220 And what is your expectation, let's say, for the day and even for the future going ahead?

00:17:42.860 Well, I mean, there's a lot to do.

00:17:44.720 First, we want to obviously meet the group and meet the protesters and then establish

00:17:52.820 a connection and a rapport with the authorities that are on scene so that we can start productive

00:17:59.820 negotiations if that's possible.

00:18:01.520 And I know you fight too in the mail.

00:18:03.100 And our supporters are going to be able to help you do that through truckerlawyer.ca.

00:18:06.960 And I know everyone here really appreciates your support.

00:18:09.760 Thanks.

00:18:10.960 Yeah, we've got a great team here today.

00:18:12.780 It's Martin Raymond and myself.

00:18:15.420 It's early morning.

00:18:17.340 So we're on scene and I don't want to leave until this is over.

00:18:20.800 You probably know from my reputation, I do as well.

00:18:25.260 First of all, I just want to commend you guys and congratulate you for taking a stand for

00:18:30.180 our constitutional rights, our charter rights, and for exercising your right to peaceful

00:18:37.220 protests.

00:18:37.880 So on behalf of Albertans and Canadians in general, I thank you for what you've done.

00:18:44.420 It's going to be a trying process.

00:18:47.240 And frankly, I can't promise you guys that we're going to be able to fudge the government

00:18:52.400 on this stuff.

00:18:53.980 But we've got, I mean, you know, we're the people and we've got the power, right?

00:18:58.100 So give yourselves a round of applause just for, and as I've told everybody, this is pretty

00:19:08.200 serious business.

00:19:09.380 And obviously you guys are aware of that, what you're doing, what's on the line and what's

00:19:14.160 at risk.

00:19:14.600 So if you need Marty or me, we're here to help you.

00:19:19.220 The legal fees are being crowdfunded.

00:19:21.560 So that's great.

00:19:22.900 And you guys will have a representation.

00:19:25.380 Okay.

00:19:25.920 So thank you guys again.

00:19:28.020 We're not going to be going anywhere.

00:19:29.820 So we'll be floating around all day if you have any questions.

00:19:32.640 We are going to be dealing with a couple of folks that hopefully will be representing the

00:19:37.460 majority of interests here.

00:19:38.740 And once we have a little bit of a meeting downstairs, we'll be establishing our connection with the

00:19:45.940 authorities to start negotiations.

00:19:48.020 So thank you guys again.

00:19:49.040 Again, a big round of applause for everybody.

00:19:55.180 This isn't easy.

00:19:57.140 And, you know, my family arrived in Alberta at the turn of the 20th century over 100 years

00:20:04.060 ago.

00:20:04.380 And I'm about as Albertan as they come, but I still don't think that that even measures

00:20:10.080 up to what you guys are doing, no matter when your families arrived in this province.

00:20:14.660 So my hat's off to you.

00:20:16.400 Okay.

00:20:17.080 Thank you.

00:20:21.560 That's exciting.

00:20:22.540 And it's about to get heavy.

00:20:24.340 The police were trying to freeze out and starve out the protesters that were blocking fuel

00:20:30.680 and food and medicine.

00:20:32.140 That's illegal, by the way.

00:20:33.240 That's collective punishment.

00:20:35.640 The police literally set up checkpoints around the city.

00:20:38.620 No one was allowed in or out lest they sneak in food or medicine to the truckers.

00:20:43.340 And those stuck with the truckers, including our two reporters.

00:20:47.020 That's abusive.

00:20:47.940 That's illegal.

00:20:49.460 And in a way, it proves it was the Mounties who locked down the city, too, not just the

00:20:54.420 truckers.

00:20:55.440 Importantly, what about the medical supplies?

00:20:57.260 There's people in here.

00:20:57.880 Well, absolutely.

00:20:58.520 There's people with heart conditions here.

00:21:00.120 There's people with ulcers.

00:21:01.100 There's, you know what, they need their medicines, right?

00:21:03.800 They didn't realize it was going to take this long.

00:21:05.900 But yeah, like there's more support coming in.

00:21:08.860 There's more people coming in that, you know, in support of us, but left on a quick response

00:21:14.500 without knowing that, you know, but totally supportive.

00:21:18.080 But they need their supplies.

00:21:19.400 They need their medical stuff, right?

00:21:20.700 And if they keep that closed, I mean, that's not fair.

00:21:24.180 And if we have a medical situation come of that, that's on their hands.

00:21:28.760 So I hope they realize that this is staying and that they need to abide by what we want

00:21:37.640 as well.

00:21:38.060 We're trying to come in and lie about what's going on and then people forget food.

00:21:41.000 It's just that a lot of things happen real fast.

00:21:44.820 Certainly, we have checkpoints as far as to make sure that, you know, we're trying to

00:21:50.280 work again towards that, towards somewhere in the middle there.

00:21:53.260 So in our discussions earlier this morning, we were working on making sure that we could

00:21:57.100 have your food brought in to make sure you have your supplies.

00:21:59.820 A lot of things happen really quick.

00:22:01.120 So that's part of why we were looking to talk to, talk to you guys here to find out, you

00:22:05.680 know, are those those trucks belonging in your group to set up an access point so it doesn't

00:22:09.920 surprise our people because we have people in the area.

00:22:12.020 And again, they're just looking to make sure that, you know, they're following their

00:22:15.240 processes and procedures as well.

00:22:17.460 And that's one thing we're looking to coordinate with you so we can bring it back to, again,

00:22:20.920 our chain and facilitate that.

00:22:23.260 As I record this, I hear word that the police are about to make their move.

00:22:27.720 Our lawyer is in place.

00:22:29.220 Our reporters are in place.

00:22:30.780 We'll keep you posted.

00:22:31.880 This is a big story.

00:22:32.820 And as always, you just can't trust the media party to tell you what's really happening.

00:22:38.000 Stay with us.

00:22:38.500 We'll talk to our reporter, he and Simone next.

00:22:53.260 We're joining us now live from Coots, Alberta via his cell phone is our friend, Kian Simone.

00:22:59.120 We also lovingly call him K2.

00:23:01.420 Kian, great to see you.

00:23:02.520 I know it's very cold outside.

00:23:04.460 Give us the latest.

00:23:05.700 Chad Williamson, our lawyer, has arrived.

00:23:08.420 I understand he's met with police.

00:23:11.440 What news do you have?

00:23:13.880 Well, actually, right at the moment, I just heard from Sid, the other reporter here.

00:23:19.340 Just on the highway, they are starting enforcement.

00:23:22.140 So he just buggered off to go cover that.

00:23:24.780 I'm just going to stay here with the truckers who are at the smuggler saloon, as they call it.

00:23:29.100 Yeah, so the final negotiations happened today, just a short hour ago, where the RCMP walked in and said,

00:23:39.000 you either move your trucks or you're arrested.

00:23:41.200 They didn't continue any further than that.

00:23:43.420 The truckers asked, you know, can we have some communication without any demands?

00:23:47.460 We want to talk.

00:23:48.160 We want to figure this out in a peaceful resolution.

00:23:50.860 And it was just a fat no, Ezra.

00:23:54.100 Chad gave us an update after just explaining the same thing.

00:23:56.920 And he's very disappointed that he came out here to be able to be a proper counsel and a strong, firm voice for them.

00:24:05.720 And the RCMP aren't listening now.

00:24:08.920 Let me ask you, were you there when the police said this?

00:24:13.100 Yes, yes.

00:24:14.080 It's now on Twitter.

00:24:16.420 We sent it in.

00:24:18.180 They're very firm.

00:24:19.560 They're not budging on the move in or get arrested and held here.

00:24:23.840 The truckers, in response to that, they're not budging.

00:24:28.540 They are parking their trucks into ditches, so it's harder to be towed.

00:24:34.400 And above this, the checkpoints that were around Cootes, Alberta, not letting food in, not letting supplies in, not letting medicine in for people who have conditions.

00:24:43.860 I guess they needed the resources.

00:24:45.280 So those just completely opened.

00:24:48.220 And more convoys from all around Alberta are coming in here.

00:24:51.380 So it's going to be a tough time for the RCMP to get all these hundreds and hundreds and now more hundreds of people out of here.

00:24:57.600 This is really going on in real time.

00:24:59.380 I'm just looking at your Twitter feed here.

00:25:02.060 We're now going to play a clip.

00:25:04.520 This is amazing reportage by you and Sidney Fouzard.

00:25:07.420 In the room, when the police lay down their ultimatum, let's take a look at that clip now that I'm literally looking off your Twitter feed.

00:25:16.240 What do you do next?

00:25:18.760 How long can you stay?

00:25:21.560 We will stay.

00:25:26.660 We will stay.

00:25:29.580 We can make this easy, too, for you guys.

00:25:32.760 It's by you guys working with us.

00:25:35.260 We're in this together.

00:25:36.660 We all want the same thing.

00:25:38.200 We want this stuff done.

00:25:39.840 No mandates.

00:25:41.240 They have to be finished.

00:25:42.580 We're not here to cause issues.

00:25:46.000 The minute restrictions get taken down, we'll leave.

00:25:50.680 We get that the message has been delivered, but it hasn't helped.

00:25:53.900 Like, everything's still the same.

00:25:55.320 That's right.

00:25:56.260 This whole media thing that we're just a little fringe minority, there is more and more happening.

00:26:01.280 Just so you guys know.

00:26:02.740 This is not a small fringe minority.

00:26:05.140 Okay.

00:26:06.120 What's your name, sir?

00:26:07.380 My name is George.

00:26:08.480 George?

00:26:08.960 Yes.

00:26:09.320 I appreciate you bringing that out and talking on behalf of the group.

00:26:13.640 Right.

00:26:14.340 You've got to have somebody that's willing to speak up and talk.

00:26:18.100 I get that.

00:26:19.380 That's why I'm here today.

00:26:20.740 It's to be the one on behalf of the RCP that's speaking up and talking to you guys.

00:26:25.240 Right.

00:26:25.460 And what we have been told can impart upon you is that today is the day that you're opening

00:26:32.280 the highway.

00:26:33.600 And the reason that that's happening is because we've been instructed to do so by the people

00:26:37.880 that are in charge of us.

00:26:38.900 So when will you stand up for us?

00:26:41.180 So when you stand up for us?

00:26:41.960 Like, are you guys not tired?

00:26:43.100 Like, do you not have families?

00:26:44.760 Absolutely.

00:26:45.080 Do you not have families that this affects?

00:26:46.940 Yes.

00:26:47.320 Like, this is the time where we all work together.

00:26:50.160 We need you guys to make a choice as well today to stand with us to make this change.

00:26:56.120 We have so much going on right now.

00:26:59.400 We have so much support right now.

00:27:01.660 You guys can decide to say, F you to your superiors and say, we're not doing this anymore.

00:27:10.140 It's happened in other police forces.

00:27:11.960 You know, it has to.

00:27:13.340 Okay, I'm going to stop you there.

00:27:14.760 That's not an option that we have.

00:27:16.560 Yes.

00:27:16.780 Yes.

00:27:16.900 Yes.

00:27:18.480 Yes.

00:27:19.040 That is absolutely incredible footage.

00:27:38.660 I literally just watched that.

00:27:39.940 Now you just posted that to Twitter.

00:27:42.020 I don't think this is very rare reportage to be in the room.

00:27:47.200 As police negotiate with the truckers, you can see our lawyer, Chad Williamson there, the police deaf to his appeals, the police making it clear that they're following orders.

00:27:59.080 They're not quite clear who the orders are from.

00:28:01.060 I should tell our viewers who are unfamiliar with how policing works in rural parts of Alberta, it is the federal RCMP, the Mounties, who are the police, but they are on a contract with the provincial government to provide rural policing.

00:28:16.320 Other provinces like Ontario or Quebec have their own provincial police forces.

00:28:21.200 Alberta does not.

00:28:21.920 I wonder if these cops are taking orders from Justin Trudeau in Ottawa or from Jason Kenney in Alberta.

00:28:30.160 And please don't tell me the fiction that politics doesn't apply to policing.

00:28:34.520 I've just observed too much in the last two years to believe that anymore.

00:28:38.200 So, K2, you say that the police have begun enforcing.

00:28:43.100 So, basically, they've got, I presume, heavy-duty tow trucks, the kind of tow trucks that would be needed to lift a semi-trailer, like a tractor trailer.

00:28:52.420 Is that right?

00:28:53.700 Yeah, I can't confirm the tow trucks.

00:28:55.680 I know that they had them in Milk River.

00:28:58.040 Milk River, sorry.

00:28:59.360 And they were ready.

00:29:00.720 And, amazing enough, Sid ran over there to check it out.

00:29:04.500 So, when he says enforcement, you know, they could just be arresting people or they could be moving people out of the way so that they could come here.

00:29:13.080 To the point before of the RCMP talking with the protesters and Chad, we don't know where the order came from.

00:29:23.860 They did just say higher up.

00:29:25.440 So, politically, I'm not sure, but the supporters, sorry, I'm freezing here.

00:29:33.120 The supporters, they asked, like, what are you going to do?

00:29:36.440 Are you going to fight for us?

00:29:38.000 And the police said that's not a choice.

00:29:41.280 And it caused a big rift between them.

00:29:44.220 And I think that's where a lot of the tension started, where they do have a choice and the protesters were not happy with how this is going.

00:29:51.560 Yeah, now, I haven't looked deeply and carefully at what the police said in full.

00:29:57.520 Did they say what the arrests were for?

00:29:59.760 I mean, when you arrest someone, as a cop, you typically have to say what the arrest is for.

00:30:05.320 And if someone is in a restaurant and their truck is out there, I can't imagine what the charge would be.

00:30:14.200 Mischief, maybe, some traffic offense.

00:30:17.200 Like, when I park somewhere illegally, I get a traffic ticket.

00:30:20.540 Maybe it's under the Highway Traffic Act or something.

00:30:23.500 Do you know what the charges are?

00:30:26.420 So, yesterday, during the three sets of negotiations, there were the RCMP officers suggested that it could be traffic violations for tickets, critical infrastructure.

00:30:38.740 And one more, they said criminal code, but they didn't go any further than that.

00:30:42.760 So, today, during the negotiation, their demand was that they're opening up the highway regardless, that be RCMP.

00:30:51.340 So, maybe it's an obstruction of justice that that could be.

00:30:56.140 I'm not too sure.

00:30:57.140 They didn't actually say what they would be arresting them for.

00:30:59.900 Right.

00:31:00.520 Very interesting.

00:31:01.380 And, of course, police can charge whatever they want, whether or not those charges hold up.

00:31:07.100 I would imagine, I mean, like, if you're parked in a handicapped parking spot, if you're parked in a lane, you can be towed.

00:31:13.660 You're not going to be charged with a crime.

00:31:15.380 I have – I don't know what would happen in a mischief charge.

00:31:19.760 Mischief is almost a catch-all criminal offense.

00:31:22.760 You mentioned that critical infrastructure law.

00:31:25.120 Now, politicians who hate democratic, peaceful protests have started to bring in these laws to ban protests they don't like outside a politician's home, in front of a hospital, for example.

00:31:38.320 By the way, I'm not sure if protesting outside a hospital or a home is the best choice to make.

00:31:43.400 But both are public places, and we believe in the right to protest, even if politicians don't like it.

00:31:48.860 So it would be an interesting test of that law to have it applied to these truckers at a border crossing.

00:31:54.480 Well, this is very interesting, K2, and I know you're extremely cold there, and it's probably hard to hold the phone in your hands. 0.79

00:32:00.720 I was in extremely cold Ottawa, too.

00:32:03.460 I can't thank you enough for your coverage.

00:32:06.640 You and Sydney were on the phone yesterday when I personally spoke to the truckers, and I said that we would crowdfund their legal defense.

00:32:15.120 Here's my thinking on that.

00:32:16.320 Everyone deserves a lawyer, and especially people who don't have access to justice, can't afford a great lawyer, don't know how to hire a lawyer, don't know how to get one to come down quickly.

00:32:27.580 So I feel really good that we're able to get Chad there and another lawyer with them, Marty, and there's another lawyer, part of their team, that if they do face these charges, will fight the charges.

00:32:38.480 I believe everyone has the right to a lawyer, and I'm very proud that we're doing that at truckerlawyer.ca.

00:32:44.960 Can you tell me about the mood of the men?

00:32:47.380 I was not there last night.

00:32:48.920 I was just on the other end of the phone when we agreed to crowdfund their lawyers.

00:32:52.880 You've spent a few days with these men now.

00:32:55.220 Just end on maybe a personal observation or an emotional observation.

00:33:00.640 What's it been like to be amongst these holdouts who have decided to make a stand on principle?

00:33:06.700 You know, these truckers, they're not scared.

00:33:10.100 They have been acting like a family this whole time.

00:33:12.680 They've been making decisions as a whole group, not just one person or even not just five people.

00:33:17.240 It's been all hundreds of them have been making these decisions together.

00:33:20.240 They've been taking votes.

00:33:21.740 They've also obviously had their bickering.

00:33:24.140 They've had their disagreements.

00:33:25.120 It was like being at a family dinner table, and it has truly been amazing to see them gather together like this.

00:33:31.980 There's been no frustration, and that's basically the vibe you get in there.

00:33:40.480 But when they're eating together, it's all smiles and it's hugging, and they know that they're fighting for freedom.

00:33:46.320 That's what they say.

00:33:47.840 And they say most of them, some of them, sorry, aren't even truckers.

00:33:51.700 They just came here to support, and they said, you know, our family is fine.

00:33:55.060 We're okay, but we're here to fight for other families too.

00:33:57.600 So that's what's going on here.

00:34:01.020 It's on repeat.

00:34:02.080 That's what they say.

00:34:02.820 It's on repeat that they're fighting for other people's freedoms, and they're doing this.

00:34:07.940 They're standing tall.

00:34:09.520 Very interesting.

00:34:10.360 It'll be interesting from the prosecutors or police point of view.

00:34:13.280 How do you prosecute, and who do you prosecute?

00:34:15.280 If there's a truck on the road, who put it there?

00:34:18.440 I mean, I suppose you could say, well, who's the owner and who's the driver?

00:34:21.140 But is that enough to charge someone with a particular offense?

00:34:24.500 If someone is just there out of solidarity, have they committed an offense if they're just hanging out at the restaurant?

00:34:29.880 I think the police are smart enough not to touch you and Sidney, who are there as reporters.

00:34:35.060 But you never know.

00:34:35.880 I mean, Trudeau's RCMP beat up our reporter in Toronto last month, our friend David Menzies.

00:34:42.520 So you never know what the RCMP might do.

00:34:45.600 I think the presence of your cameras is having a salutary effect.

00:34:49.360 It's probably keeping the police from going full Waco.

00:34:53.920 You said one thing.

00:34:55.000 You said hundreds.

00:34:55.760 How many people are there?

00:34:57.300 How many trucks and how many people are there?

00:34:58.860 So before the checkpoint opened up and more are coming in, I haven't been able to see that.

00:35:04.980 But for the past day and a half, I heard someone say that it was 200 trucks are blocking and about, someone said 500 people.

00:35:13.680 And that is people still in their trucks.

00:35:16.140 You know, they take shifts almost basically coming in and out of the smuggler saloon.

00:35:20.780 And that's why they brought the diesel fuel, because these guys are in their trucks.

00:35:23.880 They need to run their trucks to stay warm, to have electricity.

00:35:26.840 They're sleeping in their sleeper cabs, really, because Kootz is a tiny town.

00:35:32.240 There might be a motel or two, but they're not going to have room for 500 guys.

00:35:35.680 That's very interesting, because I saw that room last night.

00:35:39.100 It was a big room, and it was full of guys.

00:35:41.220 Yeah, and they're not even able to fit in there sometimes, you know?

00:35:46.060 So people are behind the bar and in the kitchen and downstairs.

00:35:50.100 It is packed in there.

00:35:52.240 And how are they treating you and Sidney?

00:35:54.260 I mean, you two are fairly new rebels.

00:35:57.100 You've both been with the company for, I'm going to say, approximately a year.

00:36:00.360 Correct me if I'm wrong.

00:36:02.040 But you've both been on TV.

00:36:04.380 You've both done civil liberties reporting.

00:36:07.840 You've both traveled around.

00:36:09.060 I mean, this is your time to shine.

00:36:11.480 You guys are doing a great job under high-stress situations.

00:36:14.680 I know you've been sleeping just barely.

00:36:17.320 Do you have to go there?

00:36:18.160 Is something happening there?

00:36:19.900 No, the RCMP is just pulling away right beside me.

00:36:22.580 I'll let you go in one minute.

00:36:23.800 I just am curious on a personal level, because I think that one of the reasons you're accepted there

00:36:30.280 and that they talked to us, they asked us for help in the whole world.

00:36:35.060 Who did they go to?

00:36:35.960 It was quite an honor to be asked for help.

00:36:37.680 I said, of course, you were on the call.

00:36:39.700 I think it's because they just don't trust the establishment.

00:36:44.240 That's exactly it.

00:36:45.360 The other mainstream media that has been here, they have been unable to get a proper interview.

00:36:51.180 Not in any hostile way at all.

00:36:53.660 They've offered them food.

00:36:54.840 They've offered them coffee.

00:36:56.180 They just don't want their story twisted.

00:36:58.180 They've treated us great.

00:37:00.020 They've treated us with respect.

00:37:01.780 They've been feeding us, too.

00:37:04.900 They've been offering any services that we need, whether it even be fuel for the car here, that's basically stuck.

00:37:12.040 They're very happy that we're telling the entire story.

00:37:14.220 I told them that it's one thing to be here, but it's almost just easier to film the entire thing and say, this is what's going on.

00:37:21.920 They're so happy that that is.

00:37:23.900 One more point on when they asked for help, when we agreed and everything happened with sending Chad out here and fundraising, they were almost in tears.

00:37:34.660 They were hugging, patting each other on the back.

00:37:36.600 They were hugging me when we were on speakerphone.

00:37:39.600 They were saying, thank you so much.

00:37:41.100 I think that just helped them know that people care, and we got their backs.

00:37:49.020 Well, that's great.

00:37:49.960 Not everyone is used to the world of lawyers.

00:37:53.420 Not everyone knows, well, how do you hire a lawyer, and which lawyer, and how much do you pay them, and how do you keep in control.

00:38:00.240 It's not something most people know how to do.

00:38:02.120 Thank God most people don't have to.

00:38:04.020 That is something that over the years we've gotten better at here at Rebel News.

00:38:07.940 We know Chad, and I knew he would be a perfect fit.

00:38:11.340 So I'm glad that we were able to help them, and I think that it is a perfect rebel activity.

00:38:18.360 I mean, you know the three things we do.

00:38:20.500 We report the news.

00:38:22.100 That's just straight up what happens.

00:38:24.220 We give our opinion.

00:38:25.540 We call that news analysis.

00:38:27.280 Here's what I think about the news, and here's how I'm looking at the news.

00:38:30.660 And the third thing we do is advocacy.

00:38:32.560 In this case, we're helping folks get access to justice that they simply would not have been able to do on their own, I think.

00:38:39.320 I mean, maybe they have – I mean, that's not for me to say, but to get Chad Williamson down there in time and to tell these guys their legal rights, I feel that's an accomplishment.

00:38:52.320 I bet a lot's going to go down today and tomorrow, so stay safe.

00:38:56.180 Keep posting to Twitter.

00:38:58.460 Keep – phone if you need any help.

00:39:00.360 The lawyers are there, so I think you're fine on the legal side.

00:39:04.040 I don't know how long or how far this is going to go.

00:39:07.220 If folks want to follow this, we have a website now.

00:39:10.580 We call it truckerlawyer.ca.

00:39:13.300 You can chip in if you want to help cover the cost of Chad Williamson and Marty.

00:39:18.720 I don't know, K2.

00:39:19.860 I'm really proud of what you're doing.

00:39:20.960 Say hi to Sidney for me also and the men there.

00:39:24.080 And stay warm.

00:39:25.540 Stay safe.

00:39:26.580 Get some rest.

00:39:27.360 But also be there when it goes down because we have to show the world.

00:39:32.100 Yeah, we're not leaving here, Ezra, until this is all settled and we get the full story.

00:39:36.820 Just thank you for having me on.

00:39:38.180 Right on.

00:39:38.640 There it is.

00:39:39.260 Kian K2 Simone, rebel reporter based in Calgary, now down in Coots, Alberta, covering the blockade.

00:39:46.060 Stay with us.

00:39:46.740 All right.

00:39:57.360 Hey, welcome back.

00:40:05.080 Your viewer feedback.

00:40:06.060 Someone with the nickname GreaseMonkey1.

00:40:07.820 I'm guessing that's a nickname.

00:40:09.720 That's not a name your mama would give you.

00:40:12.200 Says the only politicians I have a shred of respect for are the ones who've been out there standing and meeting with the convoy and protesters.

00:40:19.440 There's about five I was able to count and less than Lewis is one of them.

00:40:23.420 If she or Pierre aren't the leader of the conservatives next, we're doomed.

00:40:26.680 Well, it's funny.

00:40:27.360 You mentioned that because I really think Aaron O'Toole is going to be gone as soon as this week.

00:40:33.160 Is there caucus meeting on Wednesday?

00:40:35.360 I mean, he has been awful.

00:40:37.040 I understand why members of his caucus have had to be obedient and quiet.

00:40:42.540 I mean, if you're part of a team, you have to follow the leader.

00:40:45.380 It's true.

00:40:45.820 But my God, have they allowed him to do terrible things to the party.

00:40:50.300 Alex SDB says this woman is a real politician, a real representative.

00:40:54.300 She is sensible, logical, but simply living in reality.

00:40:56.560 And whose purpose is tied to that?

00:40:59.680 You know what?

00:41:00.420 It was great to talk with her.

00:41:01.800 And I think it's a sign of the times that conservative MPs want to talk to Rebel News, speak to our viewers, speak about our issues.

00:41:10.080 That's something that Aaron O'Toole did not allow.

00:41:12.940 It's clear he's not in charge anymore.

00:41:16.520 GNM says, at least she's speaking to Rebel News.

00:41:19.500 I'm sure CBC will bash her. 0.55

00:41:21.980 Where are all the other conservatives talking to the Rebel?

00:41:25.720 Well, I think you're going to see a lot more in the days ahead.

00:41:28.480 In fact, in our morning story meeting, I think we listed about five conservative MPs who have been aching to talk to Rebel News for two years, but simply didn't want to be thrown out of the party for it.

00:41:39.180 Now they're no longer afraid of the big bad wolf of Aaron O'Toole.

00:41:42.560 So I think you can expect to see conservative MPs on our shows regularly.

00:41:47.300 And it just shows that we were not actually shunned by the Conservative Party of Canada.

00:41:51.860 We were shunned by a red Tory pretender who is now being thrown into the dustbin of history.

00:41:58.880 That's our show for today.

00:42:00.860 Very interesting stuff happening in Coutts.

00:42:02.680 I'm sort of nervous about it.

00:42:04.520 Those are good men in there.

00:42:05.820 I understand that they have chosen a certain course that will likely result in their punishment.

00:42:10.100 We're going to help them get the access to the best lawyers we can.

00:42:14.160 It's very dark days.

00:42:15.720 I believe those men are standing up for something larger than themselves.

00:42:19.420 We'll see how the story ends.

00:42:20.860 If you want to learn more, go to truckerlawyer.ca.

00:42:24.100 That's our show for today.

00:42:24.940 Until tomorrow, on behalf of all of us here at Rebel World Headquarters, to you at home, good night.

00:42:30.420 And keep fighting for freedom.

00:42:31.600 Freedom! Freedom! Freedom! Freedom!

00:42:48.000 KK2, Simone here with Rebel News.

00:42:50.320 And there is some breaking news.

00:42:51.820 The RCMP and lawyer Chad Williamson have discussed, and the negotiations are officially over.

00:42:57.280 The RCMP will be moving in.

00:42:58.880 The truckers have a little grace period to move their trucks or be arrested.

00:43:03.500 We're going to stay here on scene in the blistering cold.

00:43:06.260 You can help them at their defense fund for the guys who are staying at truckerlawyer.ca.

00:43:12.580 You can help us bring you this exclusive coverage at convoyreports.com.

00:43:17.840 Please stay tuned because this is happening at any minute.

00:43:20.740 Chad, could you just give us the update of what just happened here and what's happening now?

00:43:24.140 So, the police have essentially shut down all negotiations, period.

00:43:29.340 They've indicated that they've got marching orders, essentially, to reopen the highway.

00:43:34.480 They're not going to discuss anything further with the protesters.

00:43:37.800 They've indicated that those who leave now are free to do so.

00:43:43.420 Those who remain behind run the risk of being arrested.

00:43:47.220 There's various pieces of legislation and charges that they can essentially lay against people that remain.

00:43:53.380 They've indicated that they're going to seize equipment.

00:43:55.500 And they've indicated that they're going to reopen the highway.

00:43:57.560 So, we've provided the standard legal charter advice for folks.

00:44:03.540 And we're going to see how this plays out.

00:44:05.140 But we've really tried to stress everyone to kind of remain calm, remain peaceful, no matter what happens.

00:44:12.620 But things are pretty tense.

00:44:13.740 And quickly, they haven't alluded to consequences for the people who do decide to leave now.

00:44:17.240 But is that still a potential?

00:44:19.460 It's a potential.

00:44:20.640 They've said that they won't charge people.

00:44:23.320 But, again, if someone's committed an infraction, technically, they can still arrest people.

00:44:29.780 Okay.

00:44:30.000 Thank you for your time.

00:44:30.760 And that's truckerlawyer.ca to help these guys fight this legal fight.

00:44:48.640 Thank you.

00:45:18.640 Thank you.

00:45:19.640 Thank you.

00:45:48.640 Thank you.

00:46:18.640 Thank you.

00:46:48.620 For Global News, I'm Kian Simone.

00:47:18.620 Thank you.

00:47:19.620 Thank you.

00:47:20.620 Thank you.

Rebel News Podcast - February 02, 2022

EZRA LEVANT ｜ While national media focuses on the truckers in Ottawa, let me tell you what’s happening in Coutts, Alberta

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