The president of the Justice Centre for Constitutional Freedoms (JCCF) was charged in the late hours of New Year’s Eve for supposed obstruction of justice 17 months prior.
On Sunday, JCCF announced that its president John Carpay was notified of a warrant for his arrest on Friday, and that Carpay turned himself in immediately after hearing the news.
JCCF notes that the charges are related to an incident in June 2021, when Carpay hired a private investigator to monitor public officials for breaching COVID lockdowns.
JCCF notes that, at the time, Carpay had made this “unilateral” decision based on reports that several of Manitoba’s leadership were breaching their own strict health restrictions they’d imposed on citizens.
“Mr. Carpay took full responsibility without reservation for his actions and apologized to Chief Justice Joyal in a public court hearing on July 12, 2021,” JCCF’s statement reads.
JCCF further stated that Carpay had “been cooperating with the investigation of this matter by the Law Society of Manitoba.”
“The Justice Centre is deeply disappointed by the decision of Winnipeg Police to lay a criminal charge for events that took place more than 18 months ago and that are already being dealt with appropriately.”
“At the time of the events, the Justice Centre Board of Directors also took appropriate steps to strengthen governance and oversight of the organization while Mr. Carpay took a seven-week leave of absence.”
JCCF added that, despite the unsettling proceedings on its president Carpay, “the work of the Justice Centre will continue unhindered to defend citizens’ constitutional rights and freedoms under the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms by providing legal representation to Canadians free of charge.”
JCCF, a non-profit organization based in Alberta, defends the constitutional freedoms of Canadians for free “through litigation and education.”
In April, JCCF awarded Freedom Convoy organizer Tamara Lich the George Jonas Freedom Award. Lich was subsequently put in jail again for breaching a bail condition.
