The Calgary businessman charged with price-gouging during the COVID-19 pandemic vows to fight the case in court..“We’re going to stand in court and speak loudly to the judge,” Yan Gong said in an interview with the Toronto Star..“I want to fight for justice.”.Gong, president of the Chinese Real Estate Professionals Association, told the Star he’s been operating CCA Logistics as a side business since the beginning of the year..A provincial investigator visited CCA Logistics Ltd (Newsway) on April 1 and found several pieces of personal protection equipment (PPE) items, as well as other items, being sold at prices that grossly exceeded their normal selling price..Examples included: • 3M masks – $120 (400 per cent markup).• Hand sanitizer – $39 (200 per cent markup).• Vitamin C (two-pack) – $30 (100 per cent markup).• Hand soap – $10 (300 per cent markup).•Lysol spray – $25 (250 per cent markup).An interim director’s order was issued to the business owner on April 15, ordering the business to stop charging a price for goods that grossly exceeded a price for which similar goods were available..The business did not comply.. Defying crackdown, hundreds march against lockdowns in Calgary .Gong said the prices he was charging were reasonable when you added in logistics and transportation costs..“We have been very clear that taking advantage of Albertans is unacceptable and reprehensible, especially during a public health emergency,” said Nate Glubish, Minister of Service Alberta.“As customers, Albertans should be able to shop with confidence, without needing to worry about businesses engaging in acts of piracy..“Unnecessarily hiking prices by 200 and 400 per cent is disgusting behaviour that will be punished 100 per cent of the time.”.Gong is scheduled to appear in provincial court in Calgary on Aug. 19..If found guilty, he could face fines up to $300,000..Dave Naylor is the News Editor of the Western Standard.dnaylor@westernstandardonline.com.TWITTER: Twitter.com/nobby7694
