Moose Jaw police issue fifth ticket over `freedom rally'

As Saskatchewan continues to lead the country in active cases per capita, Moose Jaw police issued a fifth ticket to a person they say “took an active role” in a rally protesting the province's COVID -19 restrictions.

Police say the self-described “freedom rally” on Saturday was attended by more than 50 people, in violation of the Public Health Order limiting outdoor group sizes to 10 people or less.

“Individuals ticketed were identified as taking active roles in the Rally,” Moose Jaw Police Service said in a news release Tuesday.

Two of the five people charged are Moose Jaw residents. They received tickets with voluntary payments of $2,800.

Police did not give the home cities of the other three but said they were “charged at previous rallies and were therefore not given voluntary payment options.” They are set to appear in Moose Jaw Provincial Court on May 19.

Photos posted to the group's Facebook site show people, largely without masks, assembled with signs opposing the government's pandemic measures as Covid-19-related deaths and infections are on the rise.

Police continue to investigate this incident and other charges may be pending.

Similar rallies in Regina and Saskatoon in recent weeks have also attracted crowds and tickets.

Under the province's current restrictions to help prevent the spread of COVID-19, outdoor gathering sizes are not to exceed 10 people, provided physical distancing between households can be maintained. Those orders were renewed by the provincial government last week and currently run to Jan. 29. The restrictions will then once again be reviewed by the province's chief medical health officer Dr. Saqib Shahab.

“Public gatherings of any size beyond your immediate household are strongly discouraged at this time,” states the latest government advice.