Winnipeg Free Press By: Editorial | Posted: 7:00 PM CDT Tuesday, Jul. 13, 2021
Let’s start with this baseline assertion: there is no justification.
It was revealed on Monday that a firm representing seven Manitoba churches that are challenging the constitutionality of the province’s public-health orders hired a private investigator to tail the judge who is adjudicating that case. Despite the man responsible for the hiring calling it simply an error in judgment, this egregious assault on the judicial process must be denounced in the strongest possible terms and should be followed by corrective action that reflects the gravity of the offence.
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Court of Queen’s Bench Chief Justice Glenn Joyal said at a special court hearing Monday morning that he was followed by a private investigator apparently to try to embarrass him by catching him breaking public health orders, as he deliberates on the court challenge against those rules. The surveillance included showing up at his home and private cottage.
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A lawyer for the Justice Centre admitted his organization hired the private investigator, though he said it was not an attempt to influence the judge’s decision which is expected in the next few weeks.
The private investigator followed him to his private residence and to his cottage, Joyal said.
The board of the Alberta-based Justice Centre for Constitutional Freedoms said Tuesday that president John Carpay is taking indefinite leave after admitting he hired a private investigator to follow Manitoba Chief Justice Glenn Joyal.(CBC)
Carpay said at a court hearing Monday that he hired the investigator. He said he did not discuss the decision with Justice Centre clients, staff lawyers or members of the board.
On Tuesday, the Justice Centre s board released a statement saying Carpay is taking an indefinite leave from his responsibilities.
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