I was on the phone with Tamara when this broke a few moments ago. No idea what it means for their case. Fingers crossed.
MEDIA RELEASE JUST DROPPED FROM JCCF
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.
The constitutional challenge to the invocation of the Emergencies Act was filed on behalf of four Canadians who had participated in the peaceful Freedom Convoy protest in Ottawa in January and February 2022. They are Jeremiah Jost, a 28-year-old contractor and volunteer firefighter from Alberta; Edward Cornell, a 64-year-old retired military veteran from New Brunswick; Rev. Harold Ristau from Ontario, a former Canadian Armed Forces chaplain and retired officer with Canadian Special Operations Forces Command; and Vincent Gircys, a retired, decorated member of the Ontario Provincial Police.
The Emergencies Act was invoked on February 14, 2022, by the Federal Cabinet to shut down the Freedom Convoy protest. Each of the plaintiffs suffered significant harm during the militaristic police crackdown that began on February 18, 2022. Two of the applicants represented by the Justice Centre had their bank accounts frozen and seized, without judicial authorization or a review process, under laws that normally apply only to terrorists and enemy nations.
Edward Cornell said his experience having his bank accounts seized was traumatic. “I broke no law, yet the government seized my accounts and froze my hard-earned money. I am not a criminal. I am not a terrorist. I am a retired Canadian military veteran who honourably served his country… I feel betrayed by my own government,” he added.
The Justice Centre provided lawyers for the peaceful protest in 2022, and since that time has provided lawyers to defend Chris Barber, Tamara Lich and other Canadians facing unjust criminal charges.
Justice Centre President John Carpay stated, “This is a great victory for democracy, for Charter rights and freedoms, and for the rule of law.”
HERE IS A PORTION OF THE JUDGMENT
Will be doing more review ….stay tuned.
Finally we have JUSTICE (not Justin)! I listened to your interview with John and Vincent last night. I was following the convoy two years ago and even joined it in my part of Ontario. I remember feeling so disheartened the beginning of 2022 as we were in yet another lockdown. Many of my like minded friends joked about the ‘internment camps’…I mean camp is fun, right? We can do crafts and yoga and tattoos! That was our dark humour…Then came the convoy! Only Canadians would have outdoor protest in the middle of winter!! 🥶 So much hope, joy, displays of unity, camaraderie! This was my Canada! The country I love! I joined the convoy in Flesherton and followed it through Shelbourne and Orangeville! It was a sunny and brutally cold day (-25°) and the streets of those three towns plus the lane ways of all the farms between the towns were full of cheering, flag waving citizens! Many friends of mine went to Ottawa and exclaimed it was a fun, loving party there! The irony is that friends of mine who live in Ottawa were afraid to go downtown because of the propaganda.
I do not feel sorry for anyone . I agree that after this decision Mr. Trudeau owes these men an apology. But I found the actions of these protesters most offensive, juvenile, and harmful to many who lived in the area. And I do t hear anyone apologizing for the distress they caused to the citizen of Ottawa and thru out the country . I am not into this show of manly power.