Maxime Bernier among 37 people guilty of violating 2021 public health order in Saskatoon | CBC News
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People’s Party of Canada Leader Maxime Bernier is one of 37 people guilty of illegally gathering at the Vimy Memorial in Saskatoon on May 9, 2021.
“There was in effect at that time a Public Health Order dated May 6, 2021 [PHO] prohibiting gatherings in excess of 10 persons, due to the then-ongoing COVID-19 pandemic,” Judge Doug Agnew wrote in a decision earlier this month.
“There is no question but that this was a gathering, and that it exceeded 10 persons. The Crown alleges that the defendants in this matter were all present at that gathering in violation of the PHO.”
The individuals found guilty were identified through names and photos provided by SGI, or by police at the scene, Agnew wrote.
Bernier and his co-accused stood trial in September 2022.
“Yeah, I was there and I was proud to be there,” he told reporters on a break.
“I’m proud of these people.”
Bernier said the 150 to 200 people who met at the park that day were engaging in a peaceful political protest. The lawyers for the accused argued that their constitutional right to free assembly trumped the public health order.
Judge Agnew disagreed.
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