Town councillor charged in Coutts border blockade resigns

Posted on February 29, 2024 by admin

Southern Alberta Newspapers

A man charged with mischief for organizing the Coutts border blockade in 2022 has resigned as a town councillor in Fort Macleod.

Marco Van Huigenbos stated in a letter of resignation delivered Feb. 12 that he will step down from the elected position to concentrate on his upcoming trial.

“In the near future I face significant challenges, both personal and legal,” it reads. “These challenges may indirectly cast our community and my role on council in a negative light. In consideration of this and my own personal convictions, I have made the difficult decision to resign.”

Van Huigenbos, Alex Van Herk, both of Fort Macleod, and George Janzen of Taber, were all charged with mischief over $5,000 for their part organizing the highway stoppage to protest COVID-related health mandates that lasted three weeks in 2022.

A three-week judge and jury trial is scheduled to take place in Lethbridge starting on April 2.

Van Huigenbos, a town councillor since 2017, also served as the financial officer for “Take Back Alberta,” a conservative political action group, but stepped down last summer.

A by-election date to fill the vacant municipal position is expected to be announced on Feb. 26.