Minister pressed to back up claim of ‘far right extreme organization’ linking Coutts, Ottawa protests

Is there a connection between the recent seizure of a cache of guns near a border blockade in Coutts, Alberta and the ongoing protests in Ottawa?

That was the burning question during a news conference Wednesday after Minister of Public Safety, Marco Mendicino, initially declared a link between Coutts and Ottawa, but couldn’t provide evidence of one when questioned by reporters.

On Tuesday, the RCMP announced the arrests of four people who are accused of conspiring to murder police officers after a stockpile of guns and ammunition was seized in Coutts. Thirteen people in total were arrested in connection to the border protest.

“Several individuals at Coutts have strong ties to a far right extreme organization with leaders who are in Ottawa,” Mendicino said Wednesday.

“We are talking about a group that is organized, agile, knowledgeable and driven by an extremist ideology …”

Following that eye-opening declaration, several reporters pressed Mendicino for more details, including the name of the far right group, and evidence of a link to the Ottawa protests.

Mendicino conceded that he couldn’t provide those answers, and advised journalists to pose those questions to law enforcement.

CityNews has reached out to the RCMP, but has not yet received a response.

Mendicino did say there are concerning similarities in “rhetoric” among protesters in Ottawa and elsewhere across the country, including Coutts.

“What we are beginning to see emerge now are the hallmarks of a sophisticated and capable organization of a small number of individuals, but with a steel resolve, driven by an extreme ideology that would seek to overthrow the existing government.”

When pressed further about his previous statement linking Coutts with Ottawa, he offered the following response:

“All I can tell you is we are seeing a very similar pattern of conduct and the hallmarks of the ideology and motivations of people who are operating in different parts of the country.”

“The rhetoric that supported the movement in Coutts is strikingly similar to the kind of rhetoric we are seeing not only in Ottawa but across the country and it sheds light on the ideology that has motivated the small number of organized individuals who are trying to spread that message.”