EX-MLA FACES SEX CHARGES
MacIntyre accused of sexual assault, interference involving minor
Former UCP MLA Don MacIntyre faces charges of sexual assault and sexual interference in connection to alleged offences against a girl under the age of 16.
A publication ban that previously prevented identifying MacIntyre as the accused was lifted Friday.
Crown prosecutor Peter Mackenzie applied for the ban to be removed in Red Deer provincial court. Edmonton lawyer Fred Kozak attended on behalf of four media outlets, including Postmedia, in support of the application. A lawyer for the United Conservative Party also was in court to support lifting the ban.
MacIntyre’s lawyer did not oppose the move.
Court of Queen’s Bench Justice Glen Poelman said the justice of the peace who imposed the publication ban during a Feb. 1 bail hearing erred in law.
UCP Leader Jason Kenney said in a statement later Friday he was “shocked and disgusted to learn of the serious charges” against MacIntyre.
Kenney said the party first learned of the charges Feb. 2, when MacIntyre called UCP house leader Jason Nixon to inform him that he was resigning his seat in the wake of charges laid against him the previous day.
MacIntyre also told Nixon the charges were covered by a courtordered publication ban that prevented the party from disclosing or discussing the charges.
“Recognizing that the very serious charges facing Mr. MacIntyre were a matter of public interest, I instructed our counsel to support an application to lift the publication ban regarding his name,” Kenney said.
The same day Kenney announced the resignation, MacIntyre tweeted that he wanted to “focus on our family.”
MacIntyre was elected to the legislature as the representative for Innisfail-Sylvan Lake in 2015 under the Wildrose banner, before the party merged with the Progressive Conservatives.
The 62-year-old was released on bail Feb. 1 under the following conditions: having no contact with the complainant; no contact with a person under the age of 16 unless a guardian is present; no working or volunteering in roles that involve contact with someone under the age of 16; and to not go within 100 metres of a playground, swimming pool, daycare or school ground. He is also prohibited from possessing weapons while off the property where he is residing.
The Speaker’s Office confirmed earlier this week that MacIntyre had resigned his legislative seat.
MacIntyre’s next court appearance on the charges, alleged to have occurred prior to his election as an MLA, is scheduled for Feb. 15.
The identity of the complainant is banned from publication.
MacIntyre lives in Sylvan Lake, according to a biography that was posted on the legislature’s website.
He previously worked as a parttime instructor for the alternative energy program at the Northern Alberta Institute of Technology and worked as chief technical officer for a private overseas geothermal company. He garnered attention as an MLA for his suggestions in the past that science hasn’t conclusively proven that climate change is caused by humans.
Sylvan Lake is 25 km west of Red Deer.