‘Lit a match’: prosecutor says pastor’s fiery speech at Coutts blockade was mischief

LETHBRIDGE, AB – A Crown prosecutor has told a trial that a Calgary pastor accused of encouraging truckers to keep blocking a Canada-U.S. border crossing a year ago meant to fan the flames with his visit.

Steven Johnston says in his closing arguments that Artur Pawlowski “lit a match” at the protest at Coutts, Alta., then left town.

Protesters blocked the border for nearly three weeks.

Pawlowski has pleaded not guilty to mischief and breaching a release order as well as a charge under the Alberta Critical Infrastructure Defence Act of wilfully damaging or destroying essential infrastructure.