The Calgary-based Justice Centre for Constitutional Freedoms will sue the federal government early next week over its controversial policy of detaining travellers when they return to the country, which they say is unconstitutional..Initial detentions took place as a result of travellers coming back after taking the wrong COVID-19 test, but as of February 22, all international passenger will be sent to an isolation centre where they will be billed about $2,000..One of the people the JCCF is representing is the wife of an Edmonton pastor whose story was first published in the Western Standard..The JCCF said they had received thousands of emails on the plan and have already signed up 13 clients with more likely to be added..One of the people they are representing is Pastor Nicole Mathis who flew into Calgary on January 28. She had obtained the wrong test in the US and was whisked away in a van to an unknown isolation facility..Calgary police officers refused to tell her worried husband, Pastor Chris Mathis, where his wife was being taken..The JCCF said Mathis had to pay $250 for the proper PCR COVID-19 test, was told she could be jailed or fined $750,000 and had a guard outside her door..“These citizens are being held unlawfully despite not having been convicted of any offence, not having had access to a lawyer, and not having appeared before a judge. Law enforcement officers are apparently refusing to inform family members of where their loved ones are being held. This outrageous policy aligns with the world’s most repressive and undemocratic regimes and is totally unacceptable,” said lawyer and Justice Centre President John Carpay..“Quarantine, particularly of healthy or asymptomatic individuals, is the functional equivalent of house arrest and the Justice Centre will not allow it to continue unchallenged.”.Other Westerners the Justice Centre is representing include:.Blain Gowingof Alberta. Because Prime Minister Justin Trudeau had arranged for Canadian airlines to stop flying to sunny destinations, the only way Mr. Gowing and his wife to come home was by taking a U.S. airline to Phoenix, and flying from there to Calgary, where they were sent to the isolation centre. Gowing intends to exercise his Charter right to return to Canada, and not to be arbitrarily detained..Cindy Craneof British Columbia who lives on her pension, went to her home in Mexico in November 2019, and has not been able to travel back to Canada due to restrictive travel measures that impact her serious health concerns. Ms. Crane has recently recovered from cancer; however she still experiences pain, as well, she suffers from asthma which prevents her from wearing her mask for prolonged periods of time..“Ms. Crane wants to return home to see her family and friends. She also needs to return home to meet with her doctors and do follow up appointments related to her cancer. She is at risk for breast cancer as she has the gene that makes her susceptible to it, and there is a history of breast cancer in her family,” said the JCCF..Crane said spending $2,000 to be forcefully confined in a federal facility would be a severe financial burden on her. Crane intends to exercise her Charter right to return to Canada, and not to be arbitrarily detained, and fears the federal government will carry out its threat to forcibly isolate her in a federal facility..Denise and Norman Thomsonof Saskatchewan, went to Mexico on October 31, 2020. They were told by the federal government at the time that they would be able to have a PCR test in Mexico when they wanted to come back to Canada and quarantine at home for 14 days..They are scheduled to return to Canada in early March requiring a three-day forced quarantine in a federal facility at an unknown location, at the cost of $2,000 per person. .Dennis Wardof Alberta, went to his home in Mexico on January 14, 2021, based on the federal government’s public statements that he would need to do a COVID test in Mexico before boarding the plane to fly to Canada and once in Canada, he would be able to quarantine for 14 days at his private residence..“Ward went to Mexico for his mental and physical health, and in order to have major dental work completed which he would not have been able to afford in Canada. He needed to have two teeth removed and two implants installed, a process that takes approximately 3-6 months. In January, Canada’s airlines suspended all flights to and from Mexico. As well, the federal government has issued further restrictions that involve a three-day forced detainment in a federal facility at the cost of $2,000. Mr. Ward intends to exercise his Charter right to return to Canada and not to be arbitrarily detained,” said the JCCF..Reid Nehringof Alberta, went to Mexico on December 26, 2020, under the previous travel restrictions. The only way for him to get back home is to take a flight from Mexico to the US and from there fly to Canada..Jordan Hammondof Manitoba, went to Mexico with his family on January 12, 2021 under the previous travel restrictions to which they were willing and able to adhere to. The threat of being detained unlawfully in a federal facility with his wife, 4-year-old daughter, 3-year-old son, and 1-year-old daughter is causing Hammond and his family a great deal of stress and anxiety, said the JCCF..Dave Naylor is the News Editor of the Western Standard.dnaylor@westernstandardonline.com.TWITTER: Twitter.com/nobby7694
