A picture taken during the ant-mandate rally in Prince Albert on April 17, 2021. (File photo/paNOW Staff)

By Nigel Maxwell

Public safety

Anti-mandate trial receives two week adjournment; judge requests death information

Mar 16, 2022 | 2:00 PM

A court case surrounding an anti-mandate rally that was held in Prince Albert last year, has been adjourned nearly two weeks to allow time for the gathering of information related to the number of actual COVID-related deaths in Saskatchewan for 2021.

Rachel Lee Cochrane, one of the rally organizers, is fighting the $2,800 fine she received for allegedly breaching the provincial health act.

At the time of the rally on April 17, 2021, 14 months into the COVID-19 pandemic, provincial health rules dictated that public gatherings be limited to 10 people or less. The number of people who attended the rally far exceeded that and was estimated in the neighbourhood of 100. The rally was closely observed by both the health inspector and two local police officers.

Three days were set aside this week for Cochrane’s trial, however on Wednesday, the judge overseeing the case raised issue with the fact he was only provided with data for Canadian deaths from 2010 to 2020.

“This case is for 2021,” Judge Healey said.

Raiders AGM

Raiders impact on Prince Albert local economy continues to go up: AGM report

7h ago

Court proceedings

'The impact of this trauma will echo for generations': court case surrounding La Ronge woman's death reaches conclusion

Dec 11, 2024

Going Global

P.A.'s Zablocki named to Team Canada for U18 Women's World Championships

Dec 11, 2024

When Theodore Litowski, the representative for the Attorney General’s office, explained that the numbers for 2021 were not readily available, and that the numbers he had provided by Statistics Canada were the most recent, Healey expressed his own surprise that the numbers he was asking for weren’t more ready available.

Following a 20-minute adjournment, Litowski then returned and informed the judge he was told he could in fact get the requested numbers but explained it would take about a week to gather them and sort them into an easily read report.

While March 23, was the first available court day to discuss the matter, Litowski said he was not able to appear that day, mentioning he was dealing with a related mandate matter in Moose Jaw (masking) that day.

In the end, the date of March 28 was settled upon, and it’s expected on that date a further adjournment will be called to set a date for closing arguments.

Based on information paNOW obtained through the Ministry of Health website, there were 58 COVID related deaths from April 1 to May 2021. Among them was well-respected Prince Albert teacher and mentor Victor Thunderchild, who passed away just hours before the rally.

–

nigel.maxwell@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @nigelmaxwell