Disciplined police officer asks court to reverse violation of his privacy and freedom of expression
- Thursday, April 4, 2024
Founded in 2010 as a voice for freedom in Canada’s courtrooms, the Justice Centre for Constitutional Freedoms (JCCF’s) mission is to defend the constitutional freedoms of Canadians through litigation and education.
HAMILTON, ON: The Justice Centre announces that the Divisional Court of Ontario will hear the case of Jonker v. Township of West Lincoln on Tuesday, January 30, 2024, at 10:00 a.m. ET in courtroom #600 of the John Sopinka Courthouse.
Harold Jonker, truck driver and owner/operator of a trucking company, was an elected town councilor for the town of West Lincoln in Ontario's Niagara Region when he decided to attend the peaceful Freedom Convoy protest in Ottawa in early 2022.
OTTAWA, ON: The Justice Centre is pleased to announce that the legal and constitutional challenge against the first-ever invocation of the Emergencies Act, filed as Jost et al. v. Canada, has been decided in favour of the citizens who participated in the peaceful 2022 Freedom Convoy in Ottawa. The Justice Centre provided lawyers for these Canadians, who launched a court action within ten days of the Emergencies Act being invoked, and who sought a court declaration that the Emergencies Act was invoked without legal justification.
EDMONTON, AB: The Justice Centre is pleased to announce that the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Alberta (CPSA) has dropped charges of professional misconduct against Dr. Michal Princ. The charges arose from Dr. Princ granting Covid vaccine exemptions to his patients. As a result, a five-day disciplinary hearing scheduled to commence on March 8, 2024, has been cancelled.
MISSISSAUGA, ON: The Justice Centre is pleased to announce that the charge against Scott Bennett for not using the ArriveCAN app has been dismissed. An officer for the Public Health Agency of Canada, who was to be a witness at trial, failed to appear at the Ontario Court of Justice. So, on January 16, 2024, the public prosecutor withdrew all charges.
ABBOTSFORD, BC: The Justice Centre announces that Pastor John Koopman is challenging the prosecution against him after discovering that BC’s Provincial Health Officer, Dr. Bonnie Henry, granted preferential treatment to some faith groups over others. Pastor Koopman was charged with violating Covid gathering restrictions for hosting in-person worship services even while Dr. Henry allowed some Orthodox synagogues to gather for outdoor and even indoor services.
TORONTO, ON: The Justice Centre announces that the Ontario Superior Court of Justice has dismissed MPP Randy Hillier’s constitutional challenge to Ontario’s 2021 Stay-At-Home Order in a decision that limits the Charter right of Canadians to assemble peacefully.
TORONTO, ON: The Justice Centre announces that the Ontario Civilian Police Commission will hear the appeal of Constable Michael Brisco today, who is challenging his conviction and penalty for donating to the Ottawa Freedom Convoy in early 2022. This case raises questions about the Charter’s protection for freedom of expression, the right of police officers to support political causes while off duty, and the privacy rights of all Canadians.
OTTAWA, ON: The Justice Centre is pleased to announce that all charges against Evan Blackman related to his February 18, 2022 participation in an Ottawa protest have been dismissed. Mr. Blackman had been charged with Criminal Code offences of mischief and obstructing police.
OTTAWA, ON: The Justice Centre for Constitutional Freedoms announces that the criminal trial for Chris Barber continues today, October 11, 2023, in Ottawa at the Ontario Court of Justice. Mr. Barber faces charges of mischief, intimidation, obstructing a highway, obstructing a police officer, and counselling others to commit the same offences, based on his involvement in the peaceful Freedom Convoy protest in Ottawa in January and February of 2022.
OTTAWA, ON: The Justice Centre is pleased to announce that Courtney John Dugas has been cleared of all charges stemming from his arrest at the peaceful Rolling Thunder protest in Ottawa last year. On September 26, after a two-day trial, Justice David Berg of the Ontario Court of Justice acquitted Mr. Dugas of charges of disarming a peace officer and assaulting a peace officer.
CHILLIWACK, BC: The Justice Centre is pleased with the Provincial Court of British Columbia decision that a BC pastor can proceed with an application to dismiss the prosecution against him for allegedly holding an in-person worship service during COVID-19 on the basis that the prosecution “risks undermining the integrity of the judicial process.” BC Crown prosecutors had sought to summarily dismiss the application, but the Judge found that there is “some evidence that the PHO (Provincial Health Officer) preferred some faith groups over others.”
RED DEER, AB: The Justice Centre for Constitutional Freedoms is pleased to announce that charges against Ty Northcott have been stayed following the consequential Ingram v. Alberta decision.
OTTAWA, ON: The Justice Centre for Constitutional Freedoms is pleased to announce that the charges against Steven Vardy for alleged mischief have been dismissed by the Ontario Court of Justice following a trial in Ottawa on August 29 and 30, 2023.
STONY PLAIN, AB: The Justice Centre for Constitutional Freedoms is pleased to announce that Pastor James Coates and GraceLife Church have been acquitted of all charges. This follows the consequential Ingram v. Alberta decision, in which Justice Barbara Romaine of the Alberta Court of King’s Bench determined that the Covid health restrictions imposed by the Government of Alberta were invalid.
CALGARY, AB: The Justice Centre for Constitutional Freedoms is pleased to announce that all charges for violating Public Health Orders against Fairview Baptist Church have been withdrawn by Crown prosecutors.
In early 2021, charges were laid against Pastor Timothy Stephens and Fairview Baptist Church for violating Public Health Orders, which included mandates regarding gathering limitations, masking, and social distancing. On May 6, 2021, Associate Chief Justice John Rooke of the Alberta Court of Queen’s Bench issued a restraining order that applied not only to the Whistle Stop Café but also to anyone acting independently of the Café anywhere in Alberta.
CALGARY, AB: The Justice Centre for Constitutional Freedoms is pleased with the results of its efforts, since 2020, to challenge lockdown measures which violated citizens’ freedoms of association, expression, conscience, religion, and peaceful assembly, as per the Alberta Court of King’s Bench ruling in Ingram v. Alberta, which struck down and invalidated Alberta’s lockdown measures.
BARRIE, ON: The Justice Centre for Constitutional Freedoms is pleased with the Crown prosecutor agreeing to stay charges against pastor Michael Thiessen of Grace Baptist Church. Mr. Thiessen had been charged in 2021 for allegedly violating the Reopening Ontario Act. A trial for Mr. Thiessen had been scheduled for September 14, 2024, but now this trial will not be proceeding.
