Glen McGregor
Parliament Hill correspondent with CityNews.
- Some interesting points raised here about Carney’s retail political skills. His recent op-ed in the Globe was lacklustre and I remember his scrum in Nanaimo, where he refused to answer entirely predictable questions about potential conflicts with his corporate roles at Brookfield and Bloomberg.
- Reposted by Glen McGregor[Not loaded yet]
- Reposted by Glen McGregor[Not loaded yet]
- Dave Parker rightfully named to the Hall of Fame. Not for hacking darts in the dugout.
- Uh…
- Because of new rate limits imposed by X, I’m trying out a beta version of the @WeAreTheDead memorial to Canadian war dead over here at bsky.app/profile/wear.... The X version is still running but won’t be able to post as often.
- Court resumes Pat King case with Judge Hackland shutting down Zoom feed because court is moving to discussion of bail, which is subject to automatic publication ban. So no more posts on this.
- In anticipation of the inevitable “biased judge” comments, Justice Charles Hackland is a long-serving veteran jurist who has served in the past as regional senior judge in the Ottawa courthouse.
- Pat King now faces a maximum penalty of ten years in prison on the mischief charges but the judge could sentenced to time served. He spent ~five months at the Ottawa Carleton Detention Centre in 2022 before he was granted bail.
- Court is breaking for lunch, will return to discuss bail/sentencing. Expect the former to continue and latter to be put over to later date.
- (We are not expecting a sentencing hearing today.)
- Court on another break but: Freedom Convoy figure Pat King has been found guilty on five of nine charges, including mischief and disobeying a court order.
- Freedom Convoy figure Pat King is found guilty on two counts of mischief, (but not on intimidation charges). Judge says he was an organizer and encouraged other protestors.
- Hackland says Crown has proven King committed mischief beyond a reasonable doubt. Voila! “There will be funding of guilty (on mischief) counts.”
- King actively participated in blockage of steets, and told followers to resist. Hackland says it justifies finding that he was organizer and counselled protestors, incited continuation of mischief.
- Before injunction, Hackland says, King actively encouraged horn honking, and implored protestors to “hold the line.” Also called CBC journalists he met on a walk-about “scum,” Hackland notes.
- Hackland said evidence of King encouraging this is “overwhelming,” from his “bear hug this city” post onwards. (This is not good for King.)
- Hackland says study in evident found air horn noises was very significant and that evidence shows convoy planned to grid lock city, to pressure PM to change covid rules.
- Hackland now getting into analysis of mischief charges, says King “enthusiastically counselled” ongoing horn honking that was “malicious conduct intended to disturb” people in their homes and at work.
- Ayotte told court he had gone for several walks around “red zone” and didn’t see anytime being aggressive.
- The judge now on testimony by City of Ottawa official Kim Ayotte, who said he’d been told by police that convoy would leave after a few days. He also explained placement of barriers that could be moved for trucks that wanted to leave.
- Another convoy supporter who testified for defence, told court the protest was “the greatest thing (he’d) ever seen.” Another who testified it was “best, most loving” event.
- Hackland summarizing testimony from convoy participants testified on King’s behalf, who thought it was “euphoric” event, saw no violence, said Ottawa streets had never been cleaner.
- The judge says the “court recognizes King’s frequent admonitions to protesters to ‘hold the line’”were usually accompanied by calls to avoid violence. He repeats this twice for emphasis.
- Hackland walking through testimony from administrator of a downtown church, re noise from convoy, loss of attendance by parishioners. And from small business operator on delayed deliveries, “uncomfortable interactions” with protestors using foul language.
- Hackland recaps testimony of downtown Ottawa residents, including a blind retired public servant, who told court the convoy cut off her access to transport, couldn’t hear pedestrian crossing audio signals because of trucks idling. Still has ringing in ears, she testified.
- Hackland now describing King’s actual arrest, notes related obstruction charge was dropped. In judge’s summary, the arrest sounded low drama.
- Hackland back to recap Pat King videos made during Freedom Convoy, including message just before his arrest calling on truckers to jackknife their trucks to block street.
- [A caution in describing outcome of decision against Pat King. He may be “found guilty” but that does not mean he’s been “convicted” yet. A guilty finding with absolute discharge, one possible outcome, is not a conviction.]
- And court is back for reading of decision in Pat King case. My info is that he will be found guilty on some charges but we haven’t heard it from Judge Hackland yet.
- We are taking a break from reading of the decision in Freedom Convoy case but I’m told both lawyers have seen written version and that it finds Pat King found guilty on some of the mischief charges.
- “We need every body is Ottawa,” Feb 9. Then video with King describing the slow roll of the Ottawa airport. (Court taking 15 minute break to deal with court reporter’s equipment issue.)
- Then a later video: “I don’t give a shit any more… it’s game on… honk those horns, let the heavens hear you,” King says, per Hackland.
- Hackland recaps video when King calls for silence on the horns, but says it’s “pretty hilarious” Ottawa people haven’t been able to sleep for 10 days.
- January 13 video. “Horns every half hour, for ten minutes, you’re blowing horns,” King said, per Hackland’s recap. “We have all of Ottawa gridlocked.”
- Hackland now recapping all the King videos, starts with Jan 12 video as King says a convoy will roll into Ottawa to “bear hug” the people, talks about staying until vaccine mandates are lifted, Trudeau resigns etc.
- Having surveyed Convoy case law, Hackland now turns to the Crown’s case, which is based largely on social media videos, many posted by the accused. He says the vids “provide considerable insight.” Crown argued King’s words in them support the allegations against him.
- Hackland cites another case, Allen Remley, acquitted of mischief at trial but summary conviction appeal judge later found a mischief case could be made.
- Hackland says recent Freedom Convoy cases are instructive re mischief charges, including David Romlewski, convicted for mischief (on appeal that found trial judge view of party liability was overly narrow).
- Hackland now going over legal definition of mischief in the Criminal Code and “group mischief,” re liability of an accused based on presence. [Precedent is Mamolito (sp?), for law dorks]
- Hackland calls arrest of King “unremarkable”, notes that at trial, defence called 13 witnesses, 6 police liaison officers, some Ottawa residents and some protesters.
- Hackland summarizes King’s position, that the FC was a lawful protest and if anyone in downtown was inconvenienced, it was because of police.
