A Saskatoon detective mailed Bernier a COVID-19 ticket for “failing to wear a face-covering in an enclosed setting” at the election night rally where Bernier was caught on camera not wearing a mask.
The Crown withdrew the election night rally ticket in Saskatoon where Bernier spoke without wearing a mask and met People’s Party of Canada supporters.
Bernier received a letter from the Crown that the charge would be withdrawn.
“I’m happy they dropped the charge, but it’s very bizarre they were withdrawn on a technicality. The prosecutor’s office told us the reason was that the date written on the ticket for me to appear in court mistakenly fell on a statutory holiday,” said Bernier.
“Is this the real reason? Or is it because they don’t want to attract too much public attention to this court case with a political leader? We’ll never know.”
“We will continue to defend to the full extent of the law those charged with peacefully exercising their constitutional rights and freedoms,” said Justice Centre lawyer Marty Moore.
“The charges against Mr. Bernier … are just two of dozens of charges that prosecutors have had to drop against our clients for allegedly violating oppressive Covid restrictions.”
Bernier’s other Saskatchewan ticket was an outdoor protest and fundraiser for Christine Brown, Milden Hotel owner, who had the Saskatchewan Health Authority shut down her hotel for allegedly not enforcing the provincial mask mandate.
The COVID-19 case against Bernier is still moving forward for the Milden outdoor protest, the JCCF and Bernier will be back in court defending the remaining ticket in October 2022.
“In all these silly court cases related to Covid infractions, they keep dragging on the process and postponing everything. This week I was represented by the JCCF in another court case in Saskatchewan related to participating in a rally with more than 10 people outdoors in Milden. The hearings have been set to next October. I believe the Crown cannot prove that these restrictions were justified and that’s why it takes so long,” said Bernier.
According to their website, the JCCF “defends citizens’ fundamental freedoms under the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms.”
Chris Oldcorn is a Western Standard Reporter based in Regina
Christopher Oldcorn is a Saskatchewan Reporter for the Western Standard & Saskatchewan Standard. He studied at the Centre for Investigative Journalism at Goldsmith’s, University of London and served as editor-in-chief of the SaultOnline.
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