Health Minister Tyler Shandro told the UCP caucus Thursday morning that the government has told officials to go after high profile breakers of COVID-19 lockdown rules, according to a UCP MLA who spoke to the Western Standard on condition of anonymity..Those people likely involve Chris Scott, Ty Northcott, and pastors James Coates, Tim Stephens and Art Pawlowski..The source says that Shandro made the statement when he was updating the UCP caucus on the COVID-19 situation in the province..It is rare, and analysts say dangerous, for politicians to get directly involved with the justice system..“The purpose of law in a free and democratic society is to liberate, not to restrain. Our legal system and its independence from political interference helps contribute to a just society where power is constrained so that freedom and safety are available to all,” wrote lawyer Michael Spratt for Canadian Lawyer..“But this is a fragile system, built on trust in its legitimacy. That, however, has not stopped politicians from trying to place their thumbs on the scales of justice..“The message to those seeking to interfere in the administration of justice must be clear. Take your stinking paws off the justice system you damn, dirty politicians.”.The Kenney government has repeatedly said that it does not direct prosecutors for individual cases. .On May 5, Justice Minister Kaycee Madu said the government will take “concrete action” on those flagrant cases, though he did not give specifics..“It’s become clear that there are a small few who refuse to comply with reasonable and legitimate public health orders. As minister of justice and solicitor general, it troubles me to see the rule of law being eroded in this way. Action must be taken,” Madu said..A new working group made up of representatives from Alberta Health Services, police and police chiefs, Crown prosecutors, Occupational Health and Safety, and Alberta Gaming, Liquor and Cannabis was set up to help deal with the problem, Postmedia reported..“Enforcement is expected to be timely and escalate through the ladder of enforcement actions quicker than normal. It is important to note that the individual/organizations have already established a blatant willingness to ignore directions or other initial enforcement actions,” reads the framework obtained by Postmedia..Madu said he has not directed any local police not to enforce orders or issue tickets..Chris Scott is the owner of the Whistle Stop Cafe in Mirror, 50 km east of Red Deer. He has kept his establishment open despite repeated warning from Alberta Health Services. The Whistle Stop was raided by the RCMP, had it’s alcohol seized and was finally padlocked..Ty Northcott is the Bowden-area rancher who held the No More Lockdown’s Rodeo on the May 1 weekend. The event drew 4,000 people and Northcott was charged days later by the RCMP..The last straw for authorities was when 1,500 people went to his property on ?? for an anti-lockdown rally. At the end of the day Scott was handcuffed by RCMP, charged under the Public Health Act (PHA) and spent the week in jail..Coates spent 30 days in jail after being arrested by the RCMP for repeatedly flouting COVID-19 regulation by having packed church services. Alberta currently limits church attendance to ?? of the building’s capacity. He faces PHA charges..Stephens was arrested last Sunday at his Fairview Baptist Church for repeatedly breaking COVID-19 rules. He was released Tuesday and faces PHA charges..Pawlowski has been part of numerous lockdown protests in Calgary and police have tried and failed to enter his church. He has been charged under the PHA after being arrested in the middle of 17. Ave. S.E..Dave Naylor is the News Editor of the Western Standard.,dnaylor@westernstandardonline.com,.Twitter.com/nobby7694
Health Minister Tyler Shandro told the UCP caucus Thursday morning that the government has told officials to go after high profile breakers of COVID-19 lockdown rules, according to a UCP MLA who spoke to the Western Standard on condition of anonymity..Those people likely involve Chris Scott, Ty Northcott, and pastors James Coates, Tim Stephens and Art Pawlowski..The source says that Shandro made the statement when he was updating the UCP caucus on the COVID-19 situation in the province..It is rare, and analysts say dangerous, for politicians to get directly involved with the justice system..“The purpose of law in a free and democratic society is to liberate, not to restrain. Our legal system and its independence from political interference helps contribute to a just society where power is constrained so that freedom and safety are available to all,” wrote lawyer Michael Spratt for Canadian Lawyer..“But this is a fragile system, built on trust in its legitimacy. That, however, has not stopped politicians from trying to place their thumbs on the scales of justice..“The message to those seeking to interfere in the administration of justice must be clear. Take your stinking paws off the justice system you damn, dirty politicians.”.The Kenney government has repeatedly said that it does not direct prosecutors for individual cases. .On May 5, Justice Minister Kaycee Madu said the government will take “concrete action” on those flagrant cases, though he did not give specifics..“It’s become clear that there are a small few who refuse to comply with reasonable and legitimate public health orders. As minister of justice and solicitor general, it troubles me to see the rule of law being eroded in this way. Action must be taken,” Madu said..A new working group made up of representatives from Alberta Health Services, police and police chiefs, Crown prosecutors, Occupational Health and Safety, and Alberta Gaming, Liquor and Cannabis was set up to help deal with the problem, Postmedia reported..“Enforcement is expected to be timely and escalate through the ladder of enforcement actions quicker than normal. It is important to note that the individual/organizations have already established a blatant willingness to ignore directions or other initial enforcement actions,” reads the framework obtained by Postmedia..Madu said he has not directed any local police not to enforce orders or issue tickets..Chris Scott is the owner of the Whistle Stop Cafe in Mirror, 50 km east of Red Deer. He has kept his establishment open despite repeated warning from Alberta Health Services. The Whistle Stop was raided by the RCMP, had it’s alcohol seized and was finally padlocked..Ty Northcott is the Bowden-area rancher who held the No More Lockdown’s Rodeo on the May 1 weekend. The event drew 4,000 people and Northcott was charged days later by the RCMP..The last straw for authorities was when 1,500 people went to his property on ?? for an anti-lockdown rally. At the end of the day Scott was handcuffed by RCMP, charged under the Public Health Act (PHA) and spent the week in jail..Coates spent 30 days in jail after being arrested by the RCMP for repeatedly flouting COVID-19 regulation by having packed church services. Alberta currently limits church attendance to ?? of the building’s capacity. He faces PHA charges..Stephens was arrested last Sunday at his Fairview Baptist Church for repeatedly breaking COVID-19 rules. He was released Tuesday and faces PHA charges..Pawlowski has been part of numerous lockdown protests in Calgary and police have tried and failed to enter his church. He has been charged under the PHA after being arrested in the middle of 17. Ave. S.E..Dave Naylor is the News Editor of the Western Standard.,dnaylor@westernstandardonline.com,.Twitter.com/nobby7694