PPC leader Bernier admits violating Manitoba COVID-19 public health orders

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This article was published 16/05/2023 (846 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

The leader of the People’s Party of Canada has been ordered by a Manitoba provincial court judge to pay more than $2,000 in fines, after he admitted to twice violating COVID-19 public health orders.

Maxime Bernier, 60, was charged June 11, 2021, after attending rural Manitoba rallies as part of his “Mad Max” tour in the run-up to the federal election, at a time in the pandemic when all public gatherings were banned.

The veteran Quebec politician, who held the Beauce riding for the Conservatives from 2006 to 2018 before leaving the Tories and founding the PPC, was given four tickets for his actions that day.

Two were for failing to self-isolate upon entrance to Manitoba (which were stayed by the Crown two weeks ago, as there wasn’t a reasonable likelihood of conviction). At the time, people who had not been vaccinated against COVID-19 needed to isolate upon arrival to the province, per the orders.

Two were for gathering outdoors when it was not allowed.

Crown prosecutor Shaun Sass outlined Bernier’s offences in front of provincial Judge Anne Krahn at a hearing Tuesday in Winnipeg, reading from an agreed statement of facts.

Bernier, through lawyer Alex Steigerwald, admitted to violating the health orders — saying it was to save the court time and taxpayers’ money — but later argued his arrest amounted to political repression.

The PPC leader, who is the party candidate in the upcoming Portage—Lisgar byelection, told reporters he accepts the fine and is ready to pay.

The Crown had sought a fine of $1,300 for the first offence and $2,000 for the second; the defence had asked for judicial reprimands.

Krahn gave a reprimand for the first offence, noting the fact Bernier had been held in an RCMP cell for 12 hours should be counted as punishment. She issued a fine of $1,296 for the second, which amounts to $2,008.80, including costs and surcharge.

Bernier was given 30 days to pay.

“There were public health restrictions in place because of a global pandemic,” said Krahn when issuing her decision. “It was a deliberate and conscious choice on his part to persist in the face of the public health orders that he was not complying with.”

The judge said she accepts the orders included exceptional restrictions on peoples’ liberties amid the health crisis, but such orders are part of organized society.

“We live in a highly regulated society and we do that for the safety of all of us… (All of us) have to accept regulations that are imposed by properly elected legislatures and parliaments, which are meant to protect public safety.”

The Crown noted the June 11 rallies came in the lead-up to the 2021 federal election, which was called Aug. 15 and held Sept. 20.

Government officials got information showing Bernier was scheduled to attend 12 events in Manitoba over three days, beginning at a park in Niverville.

RCMP and Manitoba Health officers went to the park and observed Bernier meeting with 15-20 people. As he departed, Mounties pulled his vehicle over at 12:33 p.m., and ticketed him twice for failing to comply with public health emergency orders, Sass said.

Mounties warned him not to proceed with his next event in St. Pierre-Jolys, telling Bernier he could be again ticketed and possibly arrested.

Bernier travelled to a park in St. Pierre-Jolys, 50 kilometres southeast of Winnipeg, where he met with 10-15 people. He was pulled over by police again, handcuffed and arrested at about 1:48 p.m., and two further offences were sworn.

He was held at the local RCMP detachment for 12 hours and flew home on the first available flight the next morning, Sass said.

The Crown noted a provincial health official had warned Bernier to respect Manitoba’s orders ahead of his arrival, appealing to his integrity as a political leader. However, Bernier instead posted on social media he would not “surrender.”

Bernier argued the arrest was political repression, noting others at the rallies were not fined, that sought to prevent him from attending a rally in Winnipeg the following day.

“Yes, I’m responsible for my actions, but what I don’t agree, I still believe (the legislation was) unconstitutional,” he told reporters outside the court house Tuesday.

erik.pindera@winnipegfreepress.com

Twitter: @erik_pindera