Traffic was flowing normally on Highway 1 west of Calgary Monday evening after protesters near Banff, Alta., set up on the side of the highway to show their opposition to Canada’s carbon tax increase.
RCMP ended the diversion shortly after 7:30 p.m. MT on Monday, according to a news release.
Earlier, Alberta RCMP were asking motorists to use alternate routes after diverting traffic on Highway 1 west of Calgary toward Banff, according to a news release sent after 5:30 p.m. on Monday. Police said westbound traffic was being diverted north through Cochrane to Highway 1A. However, traffic continued to move eastbound to Calgary.
The diversion came as protests against the federal carbon tax took place across the country on April 1, the same day it increased by 23 per cent.
<a href=”https://twitter.com/hashtag/Update?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw”>#Update</a> #2: Cochrane RCMP are advising that the traffic diversion has ended and traffic is flowing normally in both directions. RCMP thank the public for their cooperation.
—@RCMPAlberta
Cochrane RCMP had advised of “potential delays or disruption” on Highway 1 in an earlier news release sent at around 10 a.m. Monday morning.
“If you have travel plans in this area during this time, consider alternate routes,” reads the initial release.
“Alberta RCMP and partner organizations will be present to ensure that the impact on travellers will be minimized and to ensure traffic disruption will not affect public safety.”
Crowds of people and vehicles have established a presence at least 15 locations across Canada, including main interprovincial highways.
Protesters in Ontario, Alberta and New Brunswick gathered to voice their displeasure with the April 1 carbon tax hike at the pumps, despite the fact rebates are also rising in each of those provinces.