Calgary police investigate protests at politician homes, may lay charges

Following a series of protests happening outside the homes of local politicians, Calgary police say they are looking into whether it is possible to lay any charges.

During a police commission meeting on Wednesday, they said investigations continue.

“Looking at all the evidence, both electronic and statements from the public about what transpired at the locations to determine if anything that happened would broach criminal or other sanctions,” said Dep. Chief Chad Tawfik.

“Depending on what a person does in relation to a residence may determine whether or not there could be criminal charges contemplated. Of course, we have to work closely with the Crown Prosecutions around that because there are certain elements of law that you’d have to prove. Those are the steps that we’re going through right now.”

The latest target was Liberal MP George Chahal, who was home with his family while a protest happened on Sunday afternoon.

Yesterday afternoon, a group of protestors demonstrated outside my home while my family and I were inside celebrating my wife’s birthday.

They came to intimidate us. I have three daughters: 17, 13, and 9. The one place they should always feel safe is at home. pic.twitter.com/rYftm4FT4j

— George Chahal (@ChahalGeorge) January 24, 2022

“They came to intimidate us,” he wrote in a tweet. “The one place they should always feel safe is at home.”

Police agree with that statement, and Chief Constable Mark Neufeld said these actions can cross a line even if the demonstrations are not explicitly violent.

“When I see people in masks concealing their identity, and I see some of the signs and banners and that type of thing that have been there and what they say, I actually think it is very intimidating,” Neufeld said. “When you think about people being at home, the place they go for respite and they’ve got families and kids and parents, it’s just not a great look.”

Calgary Mayor Jyoti Gondek was also recently targeted by one of these demonstrations, as well as Alberta Health Minister Jason Copping.

Related article:

‘A disturbing trend’: Protesters condemned for gathering outside Calgary mayor’s home

These incidents also led to the recent decision in city council to provide up to $8,000 for city councillors who wish to make upgrades to home security.

Neufeld urged protestors to keep holding demonstrations in public instead, rather than going to private property and disrupting neighbourhoods.

“Give a rethink to the tactic of going to people’s homes,” he said. “If the law has been broken and there are opportunities to lay charges, we certainly will. I would love to see people move back to public spaces where you can protest your lack of agreement with the government’s decisions, at whatever level, but I think people’s homes should be off-limits.”

Police also said during the meeting that in 2021 they spent about $2 million monitoring these protests across the city.