The Justice Centre for Constitutional Freedoms (JCCF) announced a Crown attorney dropped a $5,750 COVID-19 ticket issued under the British Columbia Quarantine Act. .“Although troubling the lives of Canadians who sought to leave and re-enter the country, no compelling medical or scientific evidence was provided by the government to support the claim vaccinated individuals were better protected than unvaccinated individuals,” said JCCF lawyer Christopher Naimi in a Monday press release. .The release said Langley, BC, resident Ms. H travelled to the United States with her husband and two young children for a short vacation in April. It said when she arrived at the border, H was informed by border officials she would have to fill out the ArriveCan form and provide a pre-arrival COVID-19 test. .H declined on grounds of bodily autonomy and privacy, and she informed the officer she did not have a pre-arrival test because she believed the mandate had been lifted. H’s husband, who is vaccinated, filled out the form on behalf of the family. .The COVID-19 restrictions the British Columbia government implemented affected H and her family. H, who is unvaccinated, works as a yoga and fitness instructor, but it has become difficult to return to work following gyms closing down. .Her husband works as a firefighter, but he has taken on an additional job as a construction worker to support the family. The family was able to afford the trip through accumulated travel points. .While H found the border officials to be respectful, the release said she was provided with minimal options. It said she was ordered to take her family back to the US to obtain a test, go by herself via taxi or public transit to find a facility with one, or receive a fine for not complying with the Quarantine Act. .Since her focus was on bringing the family home, accepting the fine was the ideal option. H was issued a $5,750 ticket for failing to comply with COVID-19 restrictions. .After negotiations with the Crown, the release said the JCCF was successful in having her charge withdrawn. .“The travel restrictions imposed by governments in response to COVID-19 severely impacted the lives of many Canadians,” said Naimi. .“Despite having the constitutional right to leave and enter the country, Canadians were limited from exercising these freedoms, unless they complied with the COVID-19 policies that attacked the democratic principles entrenched in our Constitution.”.The JCCF confirmed Oct. 26 a Crown attorney dropped the charges on two ArriveCan tickets. .READ MORE: Two ArriveCan tickets dropped after letter from Justice Centre.“My clients are relieved and pleased the Crown entered a stay of proceedings on their tickets,” said JCCF lawyer Charlene Le Beau. .Travellers Lindsay McDonald and Meridee Hlokoff were driving together and tried to cross the border at Aldergrove, BC, in June. The Canada Border Services Agency agent who they met directed them to go to the office, as they had not completed the ArriveCan form.
