Sentencing delayed for Alberta men found guilty of flouting COVID-19 rules
Sentencing arguments for an Alberta pastor and his brother found guilty of contempt after deliberately violating COVID-19 health orders have been put over until September.
Artur Pawlowski and his brother Dawid Pawlowski were arrested in May and accused of organizing an illegal gathering as well as promoting and attending an illegal gathering.
The arrests came after court orders were granted allowing Alberta Health Services and police to arrest and charge anyone who advertised gatherings that would breach health restrictions.
Last month, Justice Adam Germain ruled that Alberta Health Services had proven “nearly to absolute certainty” that the two Calgary men were “guilty beyond a reasonable doubt of contempt.”
Discussions on possible sanctions were set for Tuesday, but the lawyer for the Pawlowskis asked for a delay since Alberta Health Services was preparing further affidavits against her clients.
The health provider has indicated it will be seeking 21 days of jail time for the two men.
Germain granted the delay to make sure that defence lawyer Sarah Miller had time to prepare her arguments.
“Frankly, on a matter of this nature, where you have what some legal authorities might describe as an almost public contempt, bordering on criminal contempt ... I'm going to give her every opportunity to vigorously defend her clients,” said Germain.
Alberta Health Services has indicated it is seeking 21 days of jail time for the two men.
The judge said the delay might give the court a better understanding of COVID-19 in remand centres and provincial correction institutions.
“There are people who doubt the COVID-19. I can look at the death or morbidity statistics as much as any other judge and it's a real issue,” Germain said.
“If COVID is running wild in the institutions, we don't want the 21-day jail sentences that you've asked for.”
Germain said he might consider the “unique risks” of someone going to jail. He said the Pawlowskis' lawyer could have a number of arguments for why they're not vaccinated, including illnesses that prevent vaccinations.
“Maybe there's an outbreak in the prison system. All of those things may influence the decision.”
The case is to return to court Sept. 13.
SENTENCING ALSO DELAYED FOR WHISTLESTOP CAFE OWNER
Sentencing for another man convicted of not following the COVID-19 rules was also put over on Tuesday until September.
Chris Scott, owner of the Whistlestop Cafe in Mirror, Alta., appeared remotely and a date for sentencing was put over until Sept. 17.
Alberta Health Services is seeking jail time, and Scott's lawyers have said they plan to file a Charter challenge to the constitutionality of health orders made by Alberta Chief Medical Officer of Health Dr. Deena Hinshaw.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 27, 2021
With files from CTV News reporters Matthew Black and Dave Dormer
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Quebec nurse had to clean up after husband's death in Montreal hospital
On a night she should have been mourning, a nurse from Quebec's Laurentians region says she was forced to clean up her husband after he died at a hospital in Montreal.
'Anything to win': Trudeau says as Poilievre defends meeting protesters
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is accusing Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre of welcoming 'the support of conspiracy theorists and extremists,' after the Conservative leader was photographed meeting with protesters, which his office has defended.
'My stomach dropped': Winnipeg man speaks out after being criminally harassed following single online date
A Winnipeg man said a single date gone wrong led to years of criminal harassment, false arrests, stress and depression.
What is changing about Canada's capital gains tax and how does it impact me?
The federal government's proposed change to capital gains taxation is expected to increase taxes on investments and mainly affect wealthy Canadians and businesses. Here's what you need to know about the move.
Bank of Canada officials split on when to start cutting interest rates
Members of the Bank of Canada's governing council were split on how long the central bank should wait before it starts cutting interest rates when they met earlier this month.
Pilot reported fire onboard plane carrying fuel, attempted to return to Fairbanks just before crash
One of the two pilots aboard an airplane carrying fuel reported there was a fire on the airplane shortly before it crashed and burned outside Fairbanks, killing both people on board, a federal aviation official said Wednesday.
Police tangle with students in Texas and California as wave of campus protest against Gaza war grows
Police tangled with student demonstrators in Texas and California while new encampments sprouted Wednesday at Harvard and other colleges as school leaders sought ways to defuse a growing wave of pro-Palestinian protests.
'One of the single most terrifying things ever': Ontario couple among passengers on sinking tour boat in Dominican Republic
A Toronto couple are speaking out about their 'extremely dangerous' experience on board a sinking tour boat in the Dominican Republic last week.
7 surveillance videos linked to extortions of South Asian home builders in Edmonton released
The Edmonton Police Service has released a number of surveillance videos related to a series of extortion cases in the city now dubbed 'Project Gaslight.'