PPC leader Maxime Bernier arrested by Manitoba RCMP for defying public health measures

By Lucas Casaletto

Maxime Bernier, leader of the People’s Party of Canada, was arrested by RCMP in Manitoba on Friday after attending an anti-lockdown rally and opposing COVID-19 restrictions.

Bernier’s official Twitter account posted footage of the arrest, which shows the politician being handcuffed by officers and escorted away.

When asked if he’s carrying any weapons, Bernier says “No weapons, only my words.”

“Nothing would hurt you. Only my words, only my philosophy, only what I believe in.”

In a statement to 680 NEWS, RCMP Manitoba said “It is the duty of the RCMP to enforce the laws of Manitoba, and those include public health orders.”

“Mr. Bernier knew of the health orders and has already received a ticket,” wrote Manitoba RCMP in an email.

The continuation of the offence of violating the current public health orders in Manitoba has resulted in his arrest. St. Pierre-Jolys RCMP arrested Mr. Bernier just outside of St. Pierre. He is charged under the Public Health Act with Contravening a Provision of the Act for assembling in a gathering at an outdoor public place and for failing to self-isolate in accordance with the Order upon arrival in Manitoba.”

Bernier made an earlier appearance at a rally in Winkler, Manitoba. He was in the middle of a “Mad Max Manitoba tour” to protest restrictions in the province.

Current public health orders in Manitoba prohibit all outdoor gatherings.

Bernier has long frequented and hosted anti-lockdown and anti-pandemic rallies in the past including separate stops in Montreal and Saskatchewan.

“Under the Provincial Offences Act of Manitoba, he was arrested to prevent the continuation of an offence. He will be taken before a magistrate,” RCMP Manitoba continued.

“The RCMP is dedicated to protecting the safety of all Manitobans, and that means working to ensure public health orders are followed.”

Representing Bernier is the Justice Centre for Constitutional Freedoms, who called the arrest “a shocking attack on democracy and the Charter freedoms of speech.”

“The Justice Centre will be appearing in Court on Mr. Bernier’s behalf to respond to charges that were laid under Covid public health orders, which are already the subject of a legal challenge in Manitoba as to their constitutionality,” they wrote in a statement.

“Mr. Bernier is presently awaiting the opportunity to have Justice Centre lawyers address his bail.”

The Justice Centre for Constitutional Freedoms calls Manitoba’s current level of restrictions “draconian.”

“The arrest and detention of Mr. Bernier for supposed ‘health offences’ is an exclamation point on the continued outrageous oppression of Manitobans by the Pallister government,” notes lawyer John Carpay, President of the Justice Centre.

“Few, if any, other places on the planet are still locked down as tyrannically as Manitoba.”

Bernier won the Beauce riding for the Tories in 2006, 2008, 2011 and 2015 elections before breaking with the party and launching his own right-wing party in September 2018.

He has faced criticism from his rivals for not doing enough to weed out racists from his party and for denying there’s a scientific consensus that humans are responsible for climate change.

The 56-year-old faced criticism during the campaign for tweets describing 16-year-old climate activist Greta Thunberg as mentally unstable, although he later softened his comments.

Bernier lost to Andrew Scheer by less than two percentage points in the 2017 race for Tory leader.


With files from The Canadian Press

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