Officials from the RCMP and Environment and Climate Change have given their responses to the rumours of the convoy that may try to re-enter the NWT regardless of safety orders.
On Wednesday morning, it was reported by the RCMP that there are rumours going around of a potential convoy of NWT residents who may try to return to their homes well ahead of Phase 5 of the government’s re-entry plan. The information received indicated that there may be as many as fifty vehicles that “will not stop for the checkpoints”.
During the Thursday afternoon virtual update, RCMP Corporal Matt Halstead gave his response to the rumours.
“That investigation is ongoing, it’s something we’re monitoring. I have no information to suggest that that’s materialized into anything real as opposed to the planning phase at this stage. The message I would give is please don’t engage in this behaviour. There’s risks on the highway, there’s potential for delays for essential supplies coming in here that are needed for the re-entry planning and fire fighting efforts, and if you’re not on the list, you can’t come back. We’d have to turn you away, and it’s a long wayto drive for that.”
Furthermore, Mike Westwick with Environment and Climate Change stepped in with an additional factor to consider; visibility through the smoke.
“Whatever you think about the situation you’re in, whatever you think about the decisions being made by the government, let me tell you, I saw a structural firetruck with all of their lights on emerge from the smoke and fog this morning, a couple feet away from me without ever having seen it. So, in terms of safety, accessing that highway is very unlikely to be safe for you. Surely, even if you disagree with decisions being made, surely you do care about the people in your vehicle.”
