(St-Pierre-Jolys) A lawyer for the leader of the People’s Party of Canada has indicated that Maxime Bernier will plead not guilty to charges of violating restrictions related to COVID-19.
Posted at 1:00 p.m.
Alex Steigerwald told court in Manitoba on Tuesday that he and a crown attorney were working on trial dates, but no date has been set so far.
The case is also being transferred to Winnipeg from the village of St. Pierre-Jolys because courtrooms in the provincial capital are larger and more dates are available.
Bernier was arrested last June and charged with exceeding public gathering limits and violating Manitoba’s requirement to self-isolate upon entering the province.
Mr. Bernier was then beginning a three-day tour of Manitoba and was arrested after rallies in rural communities south of Winnipeg.
A People’s Party spokesman called the arrest a political crackdown.