Derek Reimer, the preacher who led anti-drag protests in 2023, is being asked to say sorry to the manager of a library he was convicted of harassing inside the Saddletowne Library.Reimer was sentenced to a one-year house arrest and two years probation for this incident.“The court ordered me to write a letter of apology,” he told the Western Standard Thursday.“Whatever that means, is it based on her hurt feelings, her perspective, or my beliefs?”Reimer’s lawyer, Andrew MacKenzie, said in an interview that not writing a letter that satisfies probation could end up costing him further criminal charges. MacKenzie added that Reimer is aware of those consequences, and it's up to him to decide.."But that's why I stated it very specifically, that my views and my beliefs — I'm not sorry for — are protected under the Charter. Those are our rights and freedoms as Canadians — that you can have whatever view, opinion, or you can have whatever belief that you want," Reimer said.In a video that was posted on Facebook in 2023, Reimer appears at the library confronting the manager, asking her whether she thinks holding events where drag queens read stories for children is appropriate, describing the events as “pervert grooming sessions.”“I find that really offensive. We offer programs for children. We focus on age-appropriate programs and I’m not going to have a conversation about that,” the manager said.Reimer then threatened the manager to make the conversation public, at which time she says, “You are welcome to make threats, but I’m going to ask you to leave.”Reimer continued to say that he will be back..A lawyer from Guardian Law, and former justice minister Jonathan Denis, told the Western Standard in an interview saying sorry does not connote liability, citing section 26.1 of the Evidence Act.“An apology doesn’t admit liability. For example, if I hit you in my car and say I’m sorry, it doesn’t mean I’m liable,” Denis said.According to the government’s website, freedom of expression is a fundamental right under the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms and any limitations must be rational, minimal, and proportionate.“A church, mosque, or synagogue does not have the obligation to perform same-sex marriages if it is against their faith. But at the same time, they can’t prohibit it elsewhere. This is designed so that all individuals are respected, regardless of their background," said Denis.Following the drag queen protests in the spring of 2023, Reimer faced multiple charges. He was convicted of criminal harassment following the incident that took place at the end of March 2023 at the Saddletowne Library.He was acquitted on charges of mischief and causing a disturbance related to another incident that took place at the Seton Library on February 25, 2023. On July 9, the acquittal was overturned and a judge ordered a new trial for those charges. The date of the new trial has not been specified.
