Anti-vax rule-breaker, failed political candidate tells court he’s no racist in defamation case testimony

Failed political candidate and anti-vaccination advocate Patrick Allard is suing the NDP and a former candidate for defamation, but Allard was in the hot seat in court Monday.

Allard defended himself against allegations he spouted “racist rhetoric” prior to running in a 2022 byelection.

He was an independent candidate in the Fort Whyte byelection ultimately won by now-Progressive Conservative Leader Obby Khan.

The trigger for Allard’s lawsuit was a press release issued on behalf of NDP candidate Trudy Schroeder in response to Liberal candidate Willard Reaves’ call for an all-candidates forum that would include Allard, an outspoken opponent of pandemic-related public health restrictions and a supporter of the far-right Peoples Party of Canada.

“Trudy is happy to have a debate, but the Liberal proposal to give Patrick Allard a platform to spout his anti-vaccination and racist rhetoric is wrong. Our campaign is surprised and disappointed,” the press release said, quoting an unidentified campaign spokesperson now alleged to be co-defendant Mark Rosner, Premier Wab Kinew’s chief of staff.

In an opening address to Court of King’s Bench Justice Shane Perlmutter, Allard’s lawyer Scott Cannon argued the NDP was motivated by malice to damage the reputation of a competing candidate.

“It will be clear from the evidence… that the court will see this press release as solely an excuse by the defendants to not entertain calls for an all-candidates debate,” Cannon said.

“This was a political strategy… by a political party using a false and damaging accusation as a tactical weapon without regard for the truth or care for the individual’s reputation.”

Lawyer Abram Silver, representing the NDP defendants, told Perlmutter the “sole purpose” for the press release was to inform the public Schroeder would not be participating in the forum.

“We submit Ms. Schroeder had a duty to tell voters if she was going to show up and if not, why not,” Silver said.

Under cross-examination, Silver questioned Allard about social media posts comparing the Holocaust with COVID-19 pandemic health orders that he alleged were clearly racist.

“Make sure to turn in any attic-hiding Jews, while you’re at it,” Allard wrote in a reply posted on Facebook in late 2021 or early 2022 and later uploaded to Reddit.

“I’m going to suggest to you that referring to people as attic-hiding Jews is racist rhetoric,” Silver said.

Allard said the comments were taken out of context and that he was comparing the policies of Nazi Germany that encouraged citizens to turn in their Jewish neighbours to that of the Canadian government encouraging citizens to report those who violated public health orders during the pandemic.

“The point of the post was to show the negatives about it,” Allard said, adding people who replied to his post accusing him of being racist were wrong.

“I understand it is a very sensitive topic,” Allard said in response to one woman’s criticism.

“The majority of people in the world are babysat. We don’t see the world outside our bubble. She didn’t like my comment. She’s sensitive. During the Holocaust, Jewish people were hiding in attics… because the government was telling people to turn in their Jewish neighbours. It’s an unfortunate scenario that they had to do that, but it’s a historical fact. I’m not denouncing the Jewish people. I would have helped hide people if I was back then.”

Silver said Allard “trivialized” the Holocaust when he compared it to the government’s pandemic response.

“It elevates it,” Allard countered. “It shows never again, let’s not go down this path.”

Seemingly exasperated with the line of questioning, Allard later said: “Some people thought Aunt Jemima was racist,” referring to the pancake mix brand that was discontinued amid criticism it perpetuated racial stereotypes.

“Do you not?” Silver said.

“No,” Allard said.

In August 2022, Allard was fined $34,000 for repeatedly breaching public health orders. He was one of five co-defendants individually charged with 50 counts of violating public health orders restricting outdoor gatherings between November 2020 and May 2021.

The five organized, attended or spoke at anti-lockdown rallies in Winnipeg, Steinbach and Winkler.

dean.priitchard@freepress.mb.ca