People’s Party leader Maxime Bernier charged after anti-rules rallies in Manitoba

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WINNIPEG — The leader of the People’s Party of Canada was arrested Friday in Manitoba after attending a rally against COVID-19 restrictions.

RCMP said Maxime Bernier was charged with exceeding public gathering limits and violating Manitoba’s requirement to self-isolate upon entering the province.

The arrest south of Winnipeg occurred before Bernier was to arrive at a protest in Winnipeg.

Bernier is a former federal Conservative who served as a cabinet minister in Stephen Harper’s government.

The People’s Party of Canada did not win any seats in Parliament in the 2019 election.

RCMP said Bernier will be brought before a magistrate.

“It is the duty of the RCMP to enforce the laws of Manitoba, and those include public health orders,” RCMP spokesperson Tara Seel wrote in an email.

“Mr. Bernier knew of the health orders and (had) already received a ticket. The continuation of the offence of violating the current public health orders in Manitoba has resulted in his arrest.”

In a written statement that did not mention Bernier by name, Manitoba Justice said a Quebec man was arrested for “failing to follow public health orders as a result of unlawful gatherings today in Niverville and St-Pierre-Jolys and to prevent further offences related to attending, participating, and organizing public gatherings throughout the province.”

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“Only my words” was Bernier’s response.

Martin Masse, a party spokesman, said in a release that Bernier was wrongfully arrested on charges that violate his constitutional rights as a Canadian citizen.

“This isn’t about covid anymore. It’s political repression,” Masse said.

“This is the kind of stuff countries like China and Russia do. Mr. Bernier was arrested for opposing the unjustified and unscientific lockdown measures imposed on Canadians by our incompetent federal and provincial governments for over 15 months.

“Measures that violate our basic rights, and that will have disastrous effects on Canadians’ health and well-being, as well as on the country’s public finances, for years to come.”

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Masse noted that Bernier was beginning a three-day tour of Manitoba to denounce lockdown policies, as he has been doing in six different provinces for several months.

Manitoba has had the highest per-capita COVID-19 infection rate in the country in recent weeks. The government has banned almost all public gatherings and has required anyone entering the province to self-isolate for 14 days. Bernier has been appearing at rallies throughout the country, including one in Waterloo, Ont., last weekend.

Manitoba is easing its ban on gatherings somewhat starting Saturday. People will be allowed to gather in groups of up to five on public property. They will also be allowed to have five guests outdoors at their homes.