Five Manitobans convicted of breaking COVID-19 gathering restrictions
Five Manitobans, including a pastor who openly defied COVID-19 restrictions, have been convicted of repeatedly violating pandemic public health orders and are to learn their sentence Thursday.
Tobias Tissen, Patrick Allard, Todd McDougall, Sharon Vickner and Gerald Bohemier admitted to breaking limits on outdoor public gatherings that were in place over several months in 2020 and 2021. Provincial court Judge Victoria Cornick convicted the five on Wednesday based on a statement of facts agreed to by their lawyers.
"All five of the individuals made a point of violating the (public health) orders in a very public way," Crown attorney Shaun Sass said.
"They encouraged others to attend (events) and break the law."
Tissen, a pastor at a rural church southeast of Winnipeg, has been one of several high-profile opponents to COVID-19 restrictions. He was fined for holding church services in excess of the allowable limits at the time, and was a frequent speaker at rallies against the restrictions.
The others organized or spoke at rallies, and continued to do so even after being ticketed, Sass said.
"The repeated issuing of tickets did absolutely nothing to deter these offenders."
After the tickets, which are worth $1,296 each, continued to pile up, police arrested the five.
The Crown is seeking fines of between $18,000 and $42,000 for each person, depending on their number of offences, plus court costs and surcharges. McDougall, a citizen journalist, is on the low end with convictions on eight counts. Allard, who ran as an independent in a provincial byelection earlier this year, has the most with 14.
Defence lawyers said the Crown's proposed fines would be unduly harsh and crushing. They asked the judge to impose a reprimand, which would not involve any fines.
"They weren't breaking windows. They weren't rioting in the streets," Alex Steigerwald, who represents four of the five, told court.
"My clients stood up and protested for something they believed in."
All five told court they have already been punished for their actions. Two said they have lost their jobs. Bohemier, 72, said the stress has harmed his health. All five spent brief periods in jail after being arrested and before being released on conditions.
"We were peacefully, publicly rejecting government overreach," Vickner said.
Allard and McDougall have already said they plan to appeal to a higher court, where they hope to challenge the public health orders under the Charter of Rights and Freedoms. They were not allowed to do so in provincial court, they said.
"We have to finalize the whole trial in order to go forward on an appeal," Allard said in a social media post earlier in the week.
The judge said she would render her decision on sentencing Thursday morning.
Tissen was part of a group of several churches that lost a Charter challenge last year against Manitoba's COVID-19 restrictions on public gatherings and religious services.
A Court of Queen's Bench judge ruled the restrictions were permissible under the Charter of Rights and Freedoms as a response to a public health emergency.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Aug. 24, 2022.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
B.C. tenants evicted for landlord's use after refusing large rent increase to take over neighbouring suite
Ashley Dickey and her mother rented part of the same Coquitlam duplex in three different decades under three different landlords.
Mountain guide dies after falling into a crevasse in Banff National Park
A man who fell into a crevasse while leading a backcountry ski group deep in the Canadian Rockies has died.
Expert warns of food consumption habits amid rising prices
A new survey by Dalhousie University's Agri-Food Analytics Lab asked Canadians about their food consumption habits amid rising prices.
MPP Sarah Jama asked to leave Ontario legislature for wearing keffiyeh
MPP Sarah Jama was asked to leave the Legislative Assembly of Ontario by House Speaker Ted Arnott on Thursday for wearing a keffiyeh, a garment which has been banned at Queen’s Park.
Charlie Woods, son of Tiger, shoots 81 in U.S. Open qualifier
Charlie Woods failed to advance in a U.S. Open local qualifying event Thursday, shooting a 9-over 81 at Legacy Golf & Tennis Club.
Ex-tabloid publisher testifies he scooped up possibly damaging tales to shield his old friend Trump
As Donald Trump was running for president in 2016, his old friend at the National Enquirer was scooping up potentially damaging stories about the candidate and paying out tens of thousands of dollars to keep them from the public eye.
Here's why provinces aren't following Saskatchewan's lead on the carbon tax home heating fight
After Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said the federal government would still send Canada Carbon Rebate cheques to Saskatchewan residents, despite Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe's decision to stop collecting the carbon tax on natural gas or home heating, questions were raised about whether other provinces would follow suit. CTV News reached out across the country and here's what we found out.
Montreal actress calls Weinstein ruling 'discouraging' but not surprising
A Montreal actress, who has previously detailed incidents she had with disgraced Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein, says a New York Court of Appeals decision overturning his 2020 rape conviction is 'discouraging' but not surprising.
Caleb Williams, Jayden Daniels and Drake Maye make it four NFL drafts with quarterbacks going 1-3
Caleb Williams is heading to the Windy City, aiming to become the franchise quarterback Chicago has sought for decades.