SASKATOON – Saskatoon Court of King’s Bench ruled today that a 10-person limit on outdoor protests violated freedom of expression but was justified.
Constitutional lawyers Marty Moore and Andre Memauri from Justice Centre for Constitutional Freedoms represented two anti-lockdown protesters who were ticketed $2,800 each for attending a peaceful outdoor protest at Vimy Memorial in Saskatoon’s Kiwanis Park on Dec. 19, 2020. Those at the protest exceeded the province’s 10-person outdoor gathering limit in place since Covid-19.
“We are reviewing the decision of the court and will be seeking instructions from our clients regarding an appeal to the higher Court,” said Marty Moore, co-counsel for Jasmin Grandel and Darrel Mills.
Grandel and Mills were among dozens of people ticketed for protesting government restrictions.
Grandel is a young mother who was protesting what she perceived to be a lack of transparency about the information the government based its restrictions and her son being forced to wear a face-mask in Kindergarten, according to the JCCF.
Mills is certified in Mask Fit Testing and is trained in supplied air breathing systems. He protested to voice concerns about improper mask use and burdens placed on people with physical or psychological conditions that prevent them from wearing masks, says Moore.
JCCF lawyers pointed out that there is no evidence that police issued tickets to others protesting other issues. In addition, from Dec. 17, 2020, to May 30, 2021, the Saskatchewan Government prohibited outdoor protests with more than 10 people, while allowing numerous public indoor gatherings to have at least three times as many people.
“The Regina Police issued tickets to Ms. Grandel for numerous protests she attended in Regina, including protests with as few as 20 people in attendance." said Moore. "In contrast, on June 5, 2020, Regina Police Chief Evan Bray himself attended a large Black Lives Matter rally with hundreds of people and many other police officers, when the Government’s 10-person limit for outdoor gatherings was also in effect.
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