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Regina police have handed out two tickets to organizers of an anti-mask rally.
The protest took place in front of the Saskatchewan Legislative Building Saturday, drawing a large crowd. Groups from Saskatoon and Weyburn drove to the city to attend.
The tickets each carry a $2,800 fine.
Officers said one man and one woman from Saskatoon and Deer Valley were ticketed.
“Two persons have been issued tickets under the Saskatchewan Public Health Act for contravention of Public Health Orders relating to the COVID-19 pandemic,” the police release reads, with no further detail on the exact reason for the fines.
“We understand the emotion and anxiety caused by this event; we also have families. Together, we will get through this time,” it continues.
Before police announced the tickets, Premier Scott Moe responded to the protesters on social media.
I understand a large anti-mask rally is being planned today in Regina. I hope those attending would consider how insignificant the inconveniences they are being asked to follow really are compared to the pain of losing a loved one.
— Scott Moe (@PremierScottMoe) December 12, 2020
At the rally, online videos show a speaker making racist comments about Chief Medical Health Officer Dr. Saqib Shahab, which Moe responded to.
Yesterday, one of the speakers at a rally in Regina made comments that were beneath contempt, including racist comments about Dr. Shahab.
Last Thursday, former Health Minister Jim Reiter, who worked with Dr. Shahab for many years, made a statement about him in the Legislature. pic.twitter.com/ktUwtQMuoG
— Scott Moe (@PremierScottMoe) December 13, 2020
Moe further defended Shahab in a Sunday afternoon appearance on The Roy Green Show.
“He has served this province very well. I would say him being the co-chair of the national group of chief medical health officers with Dr. (Theresa) Tam, he’s served the nation well. He’s working literally 20 hours a day in the best interest of not only himself and his family, but in the best interest of all of the people that he serves,” Moe said.
“He certainly doesn’t deserve that (kind of) treatment. I think there’s an apology that should be warranted with respect to the individual that said those words. They’re uncalled for, they’re un-Saskatchewan and they’re un-Canadian.”
Mark Friesen, an outspoken anti-mask protester and a candidate for the People’s Party of Canada in the 2019 federal election, claims to be one of the organizers ticketed.
In response, Friesen has set up a GoFundMe page to pay for a legal defense.
“The provincial and federal governments and their agents, have a duty to uphold the constitution and charter of rights and freedoms of Canada. According to that constitution and charter, these rights are guaranteed unless the government can prove, demonstrably, that limiting these rights is necessary under certain and particular circumstances. They have not proven that. Therefore all rights and freedoms are in full effect,” the page reads.
“Given the current state of affairs, we want to ensure we have a fund that we can use to help defend our rights & freedoms in a court of law and fight these unlawful fines, tickets, and charges. Please donate what you can to this effort.”
As of Sunday morning, it had raised over $3,700.