Two-week trial kicks off over Saskatoon ‘freedom rally’

A trial scheduled to last for two weeks got underway at TCU Place in Saskatoon on Monday, set to address tickets with hefty fines attached that were administered to people who allegedly participated in a 2021 rally that violated public health orders.

People’s Party of Canada (PPC) Leader Maxime Bernier and former Saskatoon PPC candidate-turned-Buffalo Party candidate Mark Friesen are among those named in the proceedings for allegedly violating public health orders at the Kiwanis Park rally on May 9 of last year.

The provincial government instituted public health orders to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

The morning proceedings Monday established that a number of voir dires — a trial within a trial to determine issues like the relevance and admissibility of certain evidence — and sub-voir dires might be required in the course of the proceedings.

At least eight lawyers were present during Monday’s proceedings, including Crown prosecutor Buffy Rodgers and defence lawyers Cynthia Murphy and Elaine Anderson.

Provincial Court Judge Doug Agnew is presiding over the proceedings.

Bernier admitted his attendance at the rally to reporters during Monday’s lunch break.

“Yeah, I was there and I was proud to be there and I’m proud of these people also. They are not ordinary Canadians, they are extraordinary Canadians,” Bernier told the media.

Tickets at Saskatoon Freedom Rally https://t.co/WLLNnz1IBD

— 🇨🇦MarkFriesen🇨🇦 The Grizzly Patriot (@MarkFriesen08) May 9, 2021

Bernier emphasized that it was unfair for people who had gathered for a peaceful protest to be facing consequences like the matter now before the courts.

He’s confident of a positive outcome for those who are alleged to have attended the rally.

“Police here in Saskatchewan must go after the real criminals,” Bernier said. “(Those who attended) are not criminals, they are heroes … they fight for our rights. Not having the right to be out there, being at a political protest in a democratic country? We will win that case.”

Earlier, as the court broke for a morning break, a person sitting at the back of the nearly full gallery yelled for the proceedings to be louder, to which several people in the gallery loudly voiced their agreement.

Then, the People’s Party leader addressed those in the gallery, thanking those who were there and who had participated in the rally. He called those gathered “heroes,” said they were fighting for freedom and asked to take a photo with supporters sitting in the gallery.

He posted that photo to his Twitter account Monday morning with a caption that called the laws surrounding participation in the 2021 rally “tyrannical.”

These people are not ordinary Canadians. They are extraordinary Canadians who defied tyrannical laws against participating in an outdoor rally in Saskatoon last year and got $2800 tickets for it.

We are in court today.

WE ARE FIGHTING FOR YOUR FREEDOMS! pic.twitter.com/38qz9zdvQE

— Maxime Bernier (@MaximeBernier) September 12, 2022

During Monday’s voir dire proceedings, Sgt. Dave Larocque with the Saskatoon Police Service offered testimony about his role at the May 9 rally and how police became aware of the event.

Larocque said he worked undercover — in an unmarked vehicle and not wearing a uniform — and took photos of the participants in the rally. He also identified some of the people in the photos he said he took, who were present at Kiwanis Park on May 9.

He testified that between 150 and 200 people attended the rally.

Bernier said he won’t be present for the entire court proceedings but will return if he is needed as the proceedings continue.