COVID-19
ArriveCAN ticket case dismissed, but Charter rights remain in limbo
News release from the Justice Centre for Constitutional Freedoms
The Justice Centre is pleased to announce that the charge against Scott Bennett for not using the ArriveCAN app has been dismissed. An officer for the Public Health Agency of Canada, who was to be a witness at trial, failed to appear at the Ontario Court of Justice. So, on January 16, 2024, the public prosecutor withdrew all charges.Returning from a trip abroad on July 12, 2022, Mr. Bennett was issued a ticket at the Pearson International Airport for not using the controversial ArriveCAN app to disclose his Covid vaccination status. He filled in the back of the ticket, requesting an early resolution meeting with the prosecutor. Legal counsel, supported by the Justice Centre, attended that meeting and informed the prosecutor that they intended to raise Charter issues to defend Mr. Bennett against the prosecution. In particular, Charter section 8 prohibits unjustified search and seizure, and Charter section 9 prohibits arbitrary arrest and detention. The defence was prepared to argue that being forced to disclose vaccination status violates Charter section 8, and that the quarantine mandate violates Charter section 9.Mr. Bennett then received a trial notice that his case was to be heard at the Mississauga Provincial Offenses Court – usually reserved for traffic tickets with fines of less that $1,000. That court set the trial date without input from the defense. If that trial had proceeded, Mr. Bennett would have had only a few minutes to present his Charter arguments. His counsel filed a Notice of Constitutional Question on December 20, 2023, restating their intention to raise section 8 and 9 Charter issues, and then filed a motion to adjourn to trial. This would have allowed the defense enough time to fully argue the Charter issues. The January 2024 court date was then set.But when that day came, there was no witness for the prosecution. As a result, the charge against Mr. Bennett was dismissed. In 2022, Mr. Bennett was one of 11 applicants requesting a judicial review, supported by the Justice Centre, that challenged the constitutionality of the ArriveCAN app in Yates v. Attorney General of Canada. The federal policy of requiring Canadians to use the ArriveCAN app when returning to Canada was discontinued on September 30, 2022. The Federal Government then brought a motion to dismiss the case for mootness (irrelevance), which the court granted. The decision to dismiss the challenge to ArriveCAN for mootness was affirmed by the Federal Court of Appeal in July 2023, although the Court also ruled that Canadians could still pursue constitutional challenges when fighting their ArriveCAN tickets. That’s what Mr. Bennett had hoped to do, but the prosecution witness failed to appear.Chris Fleury, counsel for Mr. Bennett, stated, “Mr. Bennett is obviously thrilled with this outcome, which is very positive for him personally. At the same time, we are both disappointed that the constitutionality of the Federal Government’s decision to detain citizens based on their vaccination status may never see judicial scrutiny. Tomorrow morning, the Federal Government could make it mandatory for all returning Canadians to use ArriveCAN, and there would be no court ruling on the books about whether this mandatory requirement complies with the Charter.”
COVID-19
Freedom Convoy’s Tamara Lich shares heartfelt letter from children: ‘God will be by your side’
From LifeSiteNews
Ahead of the announcement of the verdict from her trial in Canada, the Freedom Convoy co-leader posted on X the ‘beautiful letter’ from a 4-year-old and 8-year-old.
With a few weeks until a verdict is released, Freedom Convoy leader Tamara Lich shared a heartwarming letter she received from a child, who told her to “keep fighting” for everyone and that “God will protect” her from the “enemy.”
Lich shared an image of the letter Thursday on X, writing, “Feels like a good day to share this beautiful letter I received from some very wise children.”
The letter, which was handwritten and sent to Lich by 4-year-old Zavier and 8-year-old Alanis, has the title “God loves You.”
“Thank you for fighting for everyones FREEDOM. God will be by your side and God will protect you from the enemy,” the letter reads.
“With God everything is possible. Stay strong we are praying for you every step of the journey.”
Lich was arrested on February 17, 2022, in Ottawa. Co-leader Chris Barber was arrested the same day.
Lich and Barber’s trial concluded in September 2024, more than a year after it began. It was originally scheduled to last 16 days.
As reported by LifeSiteNews, Lich and Barber’s verdict will be announced on March 12.
They both face a possible 10-year prison sentence. LifeSiteNews reported extensively on their trial.
As reported by LifeSiteNews, Lich recently spelled out how much the Canadian government has spent prosecuting her and Barber for their role in the protests. She said at least $5 million in “taxpayer dollars” has been spent thus far, with her and Barber’s legal costs being above $750,000.
In early 2022, the Freedom Convoy saw thousands of Canadians from coast to coast come to Ottawa to demand an end to COVID mandates in all forms. Despite the peaceful nature of the protest, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s government enacted the never-before-used Emergencies Act (EA) on February 14, 2022.
During the clear-out of protesters after the EA was put in place, one protester, an elderly lady, was trampled by a police horse and one conservative female reporter was beaten by police and shot with a tear gas canister.
Trudeau revoked the EA on February 23.
The EA controversially allowed the government to freeze the bank accounts of protesters, conscript tow truck drivers, and arrest people for participating in assemblies the government deemed illegal.
From LifeSiteNews
Ontario Superior Court Justice Charles Hackland ruled that Pat King must serve three months of house arrest and dedicate 100 hours to community service for his participation in the 2022 Freedom Convoy
Freedom Convoy participant Pat King has been given a 3-month conditional sentence for his role in the 2022 Freedom Convoy protest against COVID mandates.
On February 19, Ontario Superior Court Justice Charles Hackland ruled that King must serve three additional months of house arrest and dedicate 100 hours to community service for his role in the Freedom Convoy. King’s sentence would have been 12 months, but the court gave him credit for time served prior to his trial.
“In the court’s opinion, there is a social harm to unduly elevating the sentencing rules of denunciation and deterrence in the context of political protests to result in punitive sentences at the top of the sentencing range,” Hackland wrote, explaining why he did not opt to sentence King to a whopping 10-year prison sentence, as the Crown prosecutors had advocated for.
“The risk is that an overly severe sentence of imprisonment in the context of legitimate, constitutionally protected activity can have the effect of creating a chill or fear of participation in political expression,” he continued.
In November, King was found guilty of two counts of disobeying a court order, one count of mischief, one count of counselling others to commit mischief, as well as one count of counselling others to obstruct police.
King’s charges are in relation to his role in the 2022 Freedom Convoy which featured thousands of Canadians camping out in downtown Ottawa to call for an end to the COVID regulations and vaccine mandates in place at the time.
Despite the peaceful nature of the protest, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s government enacted the Emergencies Act on February 14, 2022, to put an end to the popular convoy. Trudeau revoked the EA on February 23, but only after using the powers granted by the legislation to freeze the bank accounts of protesters, conscript tow truck drivers, and arrest people for participating in the assembly.
The two main Freedom Convoy leaders, Tamara Lich and Chris Barber, are still awaiting their verdicts for their involvement in the 2022 protests. Like King, if convicted, they face a maximum prison sentence of 10 years.
While some of the most notable people involved in the protest, like Lich and Barber, face a slew of charges that come with potentially harsh sentences, other protesters charged for participating have seen their charges dropped.
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