File photo of the Red Deer Court of Justice (rdnewsNOW / Pattison Media)

By Alessia Proietti

Organizer of “No More Lockdowns Rodeo” will not be sentenced, judge rules in Red Deer

Aug 31, 2023 | 3:01 PM

RED DEER, AB – The case will go no further against the organizer of the so called, “No More Lockdowns Rodeo”, charged with violating public health orders during the pandemic.

On Thursday, August 31, 2023 at the Red Deer Court of Justice, a judicial stay of proceedings was ordered by Judge Jim Glass for organizer Tyler Northcott, meaning he will no longer be sentenced.

Northcott, his lawyer and the crown all attended virtually.

Tyler and Gail Northcott, both from Bowden, organized an anti-lockdown rodeo on private land near the town in early May 2021 where hundreds were in attendance.

The pair were investigated by Alberta Health Services and Olds RCMP and charged with violations against the Alberta Public Health Act.

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Gail’s charges were withdrawn in October 2022.

Tyler was convicted on July 24 for failure to comply with the Public Health Act.

However, a stay of proceedings was chosen due to its similarity to a case from earlier this month in Calgary. Referred to as the Ingram case, a group of plaintiffs involving a gym owner and two churches filed a lawsuit stating that pandemic-related public health measures went against Alberta’s Bill of Rights and the Charter of Rights and Freedoms.

Court of King’s Bench Justice Barbara Romaine ruled that the Public Health Act was breached as politicians made the final decisions on imposed restrictions rather than the required chief medical officer of health (CMOH), Dr. Deena Hinshaw at the time.

The Alberta Crown Prosecution Service (ACPS) reviewed the Ingram decision and found there is no longer a reasonable likelihood of conviction, inviting a judicial stay.

On Monday, Whistle Stop Cafe owner Christopher Scott was acquitted in Red Deer of all charges relating to his alleged breaching of pandemic-related public health orders in 2021. The same reasoning was used for the decision by Judge Glass.

Tyler could not be acquitted as he had already been convicted of the charges.

Wesley Langlois, owner of a local diner fighting a pandemic-related ticket, will also be in court on September 15.

READ MORE: Lethbridge News Now.

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