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Alberta

Calgary pastor Derek Reimer acquitted of charges related to drag queen story hour protest

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Pastor Derek Reimer speaks with a reporter from the back seat of a police cruiser

From LifeSiteNews

By Anthony Murdoch

Lawyer Andrew MacKenzie noted that while “nothing can give” Reimer “back” the time he spent in jail, there is “some vindication from the thorough and thoughtful decision published by the Alberta Courts.”

A judge has acquitted a Canadian Protestant pastor of criminal charges he incurred for protesting a “drag queen story time” event for children at a public library.

Judge Allan Fradsham ruled Tuesday that Derek Reimer, pastor of Mission 7 Ministries, is not guilty of a criminal offense for protesting a pro-LGBT “drag” event marketed to kids called “Reading with Royalty” that took place at the Seton Public Library in Calgary in February 2023.

“I was obedient to God in protecting children and exposing darkness,” Remier told LifeSiteNews about what motivated him to protest the scandalous event. “I will continue to have a voice and speak the truth in Jesus’ name.” 

In his ruling, a copy of which was given to LifeSiteNews, Fradsham still characterized Reimer’s protest against the pro-LGBT display directed to kids as “disrespectful” and “inconsiderate,” but concluded that “not all actions” of this nature “are criminal.”

For protesting at the February 2023 event, Reimer was charged with causing a disturbance and mischief. The incident drew international attention after he was forcibly removed from the library for protesting the event and pointing out that homosexual acts are sinful.

In a Facebook post on Tuesday, Reimer doubled down on his innocence of any criminal wrongdoing, sharing the Bible passage 2 Timothy 3:11: “Persecutions, afflictions, which happened to me at Antioch, at Iconium, at Lystra—what persecutions I endured. And out of them all the Lord delivered me.” 

An ‘important exoneration’  

Reimer’s lawyer Andrew MacKenzie spoke with LifeSiteNews and noted that he is pleased with the ruling, and that his client’s “acquittal does expose what was leveled against him” in terms of his protests.  

In a statement to the media, MacKenzie said that Tuesday’s acquittal “is an important exoneration.” 

“Pastor Reimer has been zealously prosecuted over the past two years for peacefully protesting drag events for children. Today, the trial judge found that the witnesses against him were contradictory and biased, giving testimony ‘bespeak[ing] an animus towards Mr. Reimer,’” he noted. 

MacKenzie noted that while “nothing can give” Reimer “back” the time he spent in jail, there is “some vindication from the thorough and thoughtful decision published by the Alberta Courts.”

“There have been concerns that a guilty verdict could set a precedent effectively criminalizing certain forms of protest. This decision affirms the existing common-sense precedent that Pastor Reimer should be allowed to legally protest.” 

MacKenzie said that Reimer is “thankful for the opportunity to have his day in court,” along with the acquittal, and that this “legal battle inspired such a groundswell of support from concerned Canadians. His fight is not over but today’s result was an unmitigated vindication.” 

While Reimer’s charges from the February 2023 incident have been dropped, he is still facing sentencing for other acts of protests against “drag queen story hours,” for which he has been found guilty of “criminal harassment.” He was also found guilty of breaching his bail conditions, which ban him from protesting at any LGBT-themed event. Sentencing will occur on November 28. 

Reimer is also waiting for a decision in relation to charges of trespassing and violating bail conditions for protesting at Calgary’s Signal Hill Library on March 15, 2023. A decision for these charges will be coming on October 7.  

He faces the possibility of being fined $10,000 for each charge or 6 months in jail.  

As reported by LifeSiteNews earlier this year, trespassing charges against Reimer for praying in a municipal building were dismissed. 

He has been arrested many times for protesting “drag queen story time” and other pro-LGBT events in his city. 

Reimer has also been the target of harassment for protesting these events. Last April, his van was vandalized with an anti-Christian message as well as a satanic symbol while he was in jail following yet another arrest related to his pro-family activism. 

Last year, Calgary passed a new “Safe and Inclusive Access Bylaw” that disallows “specified protests” both inside and outside all city-owned and affiliated public buildings.

The bylaw means that anyone protesting pro-LGBT events at public buildings will be barred from getting within 100 meters of any such location. 

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Alberta

Conservatives say Federal Government cancelled ‘prescribed burn’ which may have saved Jasper

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Photo from Parks Canada – Jasper Fire, Cabin Creek

From the Facebook page of Conservative MP Dan Mazier

BOMBSHELL EVIDENCE

Emails obtained from Minister Guilbeault’s department reveals discussions to “cancel planned prescribed burns in Western Canada”, months before the devastating wildfire in Jasper.
The Liberal Government was warned since 2017 that a catastrophic fire in Jasper was not a matter of if, but when.
Liberals denied the advice of forest management experts and allowed a tinder box to persist around the Jasper.

From Red Deer MP Blaine Calkins

Trudeau’s Radical Environment Minister confirms he was briefed on the serious likelihood of a catastrophic fire in Jasper. But he cannot confirm what direction he gave to immediately clear the deadwood tinder box around Jasper. Experts warned. Liberals ignored.

Photo from Parks Canada – Jasper Fire, Geike Street

News release from the Conservative Party

 

Photo from Parks Canada – Jasper Fire, Geike Street Looking To Patricia Street

Over the past few years, consecutive Liberal Environment Ministers refused to listen to experts when they warned repeatedly that Jasper National Park was at “serious risk of a catastrophic fire.” But they took no action, and now one-third of Jasper has been destroyed, a firefighter lost their life, while peoples’ livelihoods have been destroyed.

This was made clear in a House of Commons’ Committee yesterday when Trudeau’s radical Environment Minister, Steven Guilbeault, said “there was no stopping this fire.” But this is nothing more than a lie. The Liberal Government has been warned for years that Jasper National Park was at risk. In 2016, Conservatives first raised the alarm that pine beetles and poor forestry management had made Jasper vulnerable to wildfires, but the Liberals ignored our warnings.

Photo from Parks Canada – Jasper fire, Maligne Lodge

Following that, two scientists in 2017-2018, tried to warn the Liberal Government about the growing threat of a wildfire. They wrote to then-Liberal Environment Minister, Catherine McKenna, saying that a century of fire suppression, combined with a warming climate and the mountain pine beetle epidemic, made the likelihood of a major fire “a matter of when, not if.” But all along they were met with condescension and denialism. On top of this, local residents even launched a pressure campaign, calling on Jasper National Park to begin taking actions to mitigate the wildfire risk, but consecutive Liberal ministers did nothing.

Now, Canadians have discovered that Parks Canada prioritized political optics over prescribed burns. In an email, a senior Parks Canada director wrote “at what point do we make the organizational decision to cancel prescribed burns in Western Canada? … Public and political perception may become more important than actual prescription windows.”

Photo from Parks Canada – Jasper fire, Turret Street looking to Miette Avenue

The catastrophic wildfire that occurred in Jasper National Park this summer has not alleviated the risk of another disaster. The threat to communities in Jasper National Park will persist unless the Liberal Government fundamentally changes its approach to forest management, but it’s clear Steven Guilbeault is in denial.

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Alberta

Alberta’s Danielle Smith confirms new ‘Bill of Rights’ will protect against forced vaccination

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From LifeSiteNews

By Anthony Murdoch

Smith has confirmed that new legislation will soon be put forth to enshrine the right to refuse ‘vaccination’ as well as a promise to protect ‘property rights’ in the province.

Alberta Premier Danielle Smith confirmed Tuesday that forthcoming legislation to strengthen the province’s “Bill of Rights,” which LifeSiteNews exclusively reported on last month, is indeed coming soon. 

Smith confirmed that the new legislation will enshrine the right to refuse a “vaccination” as well as a promise to protect “property rights.” 

In a video address, Smith outlined “forthcoming legislation” that will amend Alberta’s Bill of Rights to “strengthen” Albertans “civil liberties and freedoms.” 

“As our society evolves, so too must our laws to ensure our rights and freedoms remain properly protected in an ever-changing world. One of the amendments we are making to the Bill of Rights is to reinforce the right of every Albertan to make their own choices regarding the medical treatments they receive,” said  Smith.  

“This includes ensuring that every individual in our province who has the mental capacity to do so will have the right to decide whether or not to receive a vaccination or other medical procedure.” 

Smith, who leads the ruling United Conservative Party, noted that the recent COVID “years” have seen “challenges and hardship that can arise when that right to bodily autonomy is not adequately protected.” 

“It is my firm conviction that no Albertan should ever be subjected or pressured into accepting a medical treatment without their full consent. For me, this addition to the Bill of Rights is about recognizing that,” she said. 

The forthcoming legislation, Smith noted, will also include strengthening “property rights” as well as the right for legal firearms owners to not be targeted by the federal government of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. 

Smith acknowledges government’s role in pushing COVID shots

During COVID in Alberta, as well as in all other parts of Canada, jab mandates in the private and public sectors became the norm. This resulted in thousands losing their jobs for choosing not to undergo an experimental medical procedure. 

Indeed, in Alberta, the COVID shots were heavily promoted by Smith’s predecessor, Jason Kenney, who was UCP leader and premier at the time.

Ultimately, Kenney’s stance on COVID jab mandates contributed to his ouster, with Smith’s rise to power resting on her opposition to Kenney’s pro-mandate position. On her first day on the job and only minutes after being sworn in as premier, Smith said that during the COVID years the “unvaccinated” were the “most discriminated against” group of people in her lifetime. 

Smith’s Tuesday message acknowledged the government’s role in mandating COVID shots. She said that in Alberta, “we believe that individuals have the right to make informed decisions about their own bodies without fear of undue pressure or interference by government.” 

Smith’s announcement seems to confirm what LifeSiteNews previously reported, namely, that the new legislation is to include provision which guarantee each citizen has the “right” to medical “informed consent” as well as the “right” to “refuse vaccinations.” 

Well before Smith’s announcement, LifeSiteNews was provided a copy of a draft version of the “Alberta Bill of Rights” from a source, who asked not to be named but who is well connected with the ruling UCP. LifeSiteNews was able to confirm the authenticity of the draft version of the bill through a second high-level source from within the UCP.   

The UCP source also told LifeSiteNews that while the draft version of the bill is subject to change, it is hoped by all of those who worked on the final version of the draft that there will not be many changes. The source noted that while the bill does have support from many cabinet members of the UCP, there are a few who oppose the bill.   

While not confirmed by Smith in her announcement, LifeSiteNews reported earlier this month that the forthcoming legislation also looks to include a provision that would cement parental rights as “God-given,” as well as the “right to life” from “conception, gestation in the womb.”

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