Alberta's Critical Infrastructure Defence Act: How is it working?

• Date: 01 December 2021
• Author: Steingard, Jessica
• Published date: 01 December 2021
• Author: Steingard, Jessica

In force since June 17, 2020, the law is meant to protect essential infrastructure from trespassers, damage or interference of any kind.

No one can read or watch the news right now without some mention of the blockade in Coutts, Alberta, or protests in Ottawa, apparently related to the "Freedom Convoy".

To deal with the situation in Alberta, there have been talks about using Alberta's Critical Infrastructure Defence Act. What is this Act and what happens to those who contravene (disobey) it? And how has it been used so far?

What is the Critical Infrastructure Defence Act?

The law came into force on June 17, 2020. It was introduced by the UCP government in February 2020 when blockades over a pipeline dispute in northern British Columbia had shut down much of Canada's rail network.

The legislation is quite short--only five sections. The essence of it is protecting essential infrastructure from trespassers, damage or interference of any kind. This could include protests like the one in B.C.

Essential infrastructure means buildings, plants, roads, facilities and more largely related to oil and gas, utilities (water, electricity, gas, telecommunications, etc.), and...