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On September 21, a Quebec lawyer representing himself in court tried to challenge the Attorney General’s attempt to challenge the travel vaccination case, saying Canadians have the “inalienable” right to leave the country.
Quebec lawyer Nabil Belkacem said at the federal court in Ottawa: “I live in daily stress that I will not be able to leave and that she will be re-arrested in Canada without the case being reviewed by the courts.”
He said that if the case is allowed to continue, the government will send a message that it will not be touched.
The order, imposed by the Liberal government from October 2021 to June 2022, prevents unvaccinated Canadians from boarding planes, trains and some ships from within Canada.
Adding to the US border law that bars unvaccinated foreigners from entering, millions of Canadians are technically trapped in the country.
Belkacem, along with three other applicants who are being tried jointly, tried to have Judge Jocelyn Gane reject the Attorney General’s request to have the charges filed against him.
The Justice Department made the request after the federal government allowed the vaccine to end on June 20 in a temporary order.
Belkacem told the judge that Canadians who are not affected by the “segregation” have trouble understanding the importance of the case.
“I never want to be arrested” in the country, the lawyer said.
Crown counsel J. Sanderson Graham argued that the vaccine mandate does not exist as a law.
Former Newfoundland Premier Brian Peckford and attorney Keith Wilson representing his co-applicants say they are not challenging the law but the executive orders that put the powers in place.
The orders were issued under sections of the Airlines Act and Railway Safety Act, which allow the government to issue directives to law enforcement agencies in this regard to prevent COVID-19.
The challengers also pointed out that although the interim order has expired, the missions can be reinstated if the government’s strategy and messaging is deemed necessary.
Attorney Sam Presvelos, representing businessmen Shawn Rickard and Carl Harrison, told the judge there was no evidence the mission would ever come back.
Crown counsel Robert Drummond said there was no evidence they did.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said on September 1 that the increase in COVID-19 incentives is necessary to avoid the “problematic” restrictions of previous years.
Documents released during the legal process show that the government used its power to encourage vaccine uptake.
Among other arguments put forward by the Crown, it said the court should not rule on the constitutionality so that it would not have a “binding” effect on future cases, saying the applicants had already found “the only proper remedy” by allowing them to travel. , and scarce judicial resources should be used on the matter.
People’s Party leader Maxime Bernier, who is part of the legal action and attended the court hearing, said the powers were “immoral, unconstitutional and unscientific”. Video It was posted on social media after the hearing.
“We must ensure that these restrictions are never imposed on any Canadian,” he said.
One of Bernier’s arguments in his case was that he was prevented from performing his duties as a political leader while in office, as he was unable to travel around Canada and conduct activities.
Bernier’s lawyer, Samuel Bachand, said: “Public health measures have become gags for activities intended to criticize public health measures.” “It’s a vicious cycle.”
Judge Gane did not say at the end of the hearing when she would issue her decision.
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Noye Chartier is a reporter for The Epoch Times in Montreal. Twitter: @NChartierET Gettr: @nchartieret
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