Fougere backs Regina police handling of refinery dispute

Michael Fougere reiterated Tuesday that how the Regina police respond to the labour dispute at the Co-op refinery is up to one group — the Regina police.

“I know there is an ongoing concern about the role of the police service,” Regina’s mayor said on Gormley. “I want to put this into context: This is actually a private sector (issue). The City of Regina has no role to play in this at all with respect to the police service.”

The Regina Police Service, Chief Evan Bray and Fougere have been criticized for their actions during the labour dispute at the refinery. The company locked out unionized employees on Dec. 5.

On Jan. 20, the union erected fencing and barricades at the refinery gates. People from the company have called the blockades illegal, as have Fougere, Bray and Premier Scott Moe.

Even so, the police haven’t moved to remove the barriers. Fourteen picketers — including Unifor national president Jerry Dias — were arrested on Jan. 20, but not in relation to the fencing.

An injunction was granted that limited the amount of time picketers could hold vehicles at the gate and the union was fined $100,000 after being found in contempt of that order.

Asked by Gormley if the police have a duty to uphold the law as it pertains to the dispute, Fougere replied: “They do and how they do it is at their discretion.”

“Under the Police Act, the mayor and the chair of the commission — of which I am both — cannot direct the police service to conduct any investigation,” the mayor added. “That’s at the discretion of the police service.

“They have been investigating. The chief has said there is a plan in place to do just that. When and how that takes place is at the discretion of the police service.”

Fougere said the courts can compel the police to act, but politicians can’t. The police made that clear in a statement Monday and Fougere agreed with that Tuesday.

“I’m confident that the chief has got a plan in place,” the mayor said, “and will be executing that plan when he feels it’s the best and most opportune time to do that considering public safety and all the other factors that come involved with a very volatile, emotional and difficult circumstance at the refinery.”

The parties are to be in Court of Queen’s Bench on Thursday for another contempt of court application by the company. Fougere called it a “milestone” application that could help the police handle the dispute.

“(We) hope to have some remedy and (something) directing the police service to move forward in a way that will help resolve this and clear those gates off,” he said.

Regina Police Service officers handed out parking tickets near the Co-op refinery on Feb. 4, 2020. (Jessie Anton/980 CJME)

On Tuesday afternoon, officers issued $70 parking tickets to vehicles parked on public property along McDonald Street.