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Public Health Act tickets withdrawn in Westlock

Prosecutors provided no explanation for the withdrawal of the three $1,200 tickets
WES provincial court
Three Public Health Act violation tickets were withdrawn in Westlock Provincial Court last week.

WESTLOCK — Special Crown prosecutors withdrew all three $1,200 Public Health Act violation tickets in the Westlock courtroom last week. 

With no explanation given, provincial prosecutor Dave Hall told Judge Michelle Doyle in Westlock Provincial Court March 3 that the special prosecutors who handle the tickets had asked for their withdrawal. 

All three people who had been charged under section 73.1 of the act were on their first appearance in court, and none spoke to their charges. Hall confirmed in an e-mail each was for $1,200 — $1,000, plus a 20 per cent victim fine surcharge.

In an e-mailed statement provided to the Westlock News, Justice and Solicitor General communications advisor Carla Jones said a Crown prosecutor’s job is to consider all aspects of the evidence. 

“Crown prosecutors evaluate the evidence in light of the prosecution standard of there being a reasonable likelihood of conviction and the matter being in the public interest.” 

The Westlock News has asked for more information on what happens to those who violate the COVID-19 regulations in Alberta courts: how many tickets have been issued, how many end up in the courts, and how many are withdrawn by prosecutors between September 2020 and the present. 

We expect an answer from Justice, who advised it could take some time to compile the data. The statistics could provide a clearer answer to provincial prosecutor’s general level of confidence in the ‘reasonable likelihood of conviction’ on those who break the COVID-19 rules. 

Those who fail to follow the COVID-19 regulations set out by the provincial government are charged under section 73.1 of the Public Health Act. Most recently and most publicly, Enough is Enough rally organizer Benita Pedersen has received $6,000 in tickets for repeatedly violating the act. 

Andreea Resmerita, TownandCountryToday.com

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