Green Party of Canada Leader Elizabeth May pleaded guilty to criminal contempt on Monday, after protesting at a Kinder Morgan work site.
B.C. Supreme Court Justice Kenneth Affleck also handed her a $1,500 fine, saying she had a higher responsibility than others who were arrested, considering her position as an MP, political party leader, and former lawyer.
May was charged along with Burnaby-South MP Kennedy Stewart on March 23 for violating a court injunction that required protesters to stay five metres away from the Trans Mountain terminal in Burnaby.
Special prosecutor Greg DelBigio pointed to aggravating factors, including MayB次元官网网址檚 position of authority, in submitting the proposed $500 fine.
MayB次元官网网址檚 lawyer pointed to mitigating factors including her lack of criminal record, her 40 years of public service and her willingness to plead guilty early.
May apologized through her lawyer, saying she B次元官网网址渄id not intend for her actions to be viewed as undermining the court.B次元官网网址�
Affleck was unmoved by MayB次元官网网址檚 apology.
B次元官网网址淭he law applies to everyone. Nobody is entitled to pick and choose the laws or the court orders that they will obey because they believe they have a higher obligation,B次元官网网址� said Affleck.
B次元官网网址淢ay exploited her role as a Member of Parliament and a party leader to encourage others to defy the injunction. I cannot accept a fine of $500 as recommended by the Crown and defence.B次元官网网址�
MayB次元官网网址檚 co-accused, Stewart in mid-May. He received a $500 fine.
Crown spokesperson Dan McLaughlin declined to comment on StewartB次元官网网址檚 sentence at the time, but did say that convictions like his did not tend to produce a criminal record. Both May and Stewart will retain their roles as MPs.
The pairB次元官网网址檚 cases have been handled by two special prosecutors to avoid any perception of bias.
Speaking outside of court following her sentencing, May said she was B次元官网网址渉olding her head up high.B次元官网网址�
B次元官网网址淚 clearly respect the rule of law,B次元官网网址� May said.
B次元官网网址淏ut in a democracy, there is room for non-violent civil disobedience.B次元官网网址�
She denied AffleckB次元官网网址檚 accusation that she went to a public location for her anti-pipeline protest in order to draw media and public attention.
B次元官网网址淚 didnB次元官网网址檛 call the media for my arrest and I didnB次元官网网址檛 know media would be there,B次元官网网址� May said.
B次元官网网址淚t was a personal decision, not intended to influence anyone else.B次元官网网址�
| Green Party of Canada Leader Elizabeth May talks to reporters after her conviction on criminal contempt charges. (Katya Slepian/Black Press Media) |
More than 150 other protesters are facing contempt charges. Trials have been ongoing since early May for those .
Crown lawyer Trevor Shaw, who is leading the prosecution for most of the accused, recommended fines of between $500-$4,500 and up to 14 days of jail time.
The sentences apply only to those pleading guilty.
MayB次元官网网址檚 day in court comes just days before Kinder Morgan is set to announce its final investment decision on the controversial project on Thursday.
The company on the $7.4-billion pipeline expansion in early April, saying the B.C. government clearly did not support it.
Since then, amidst escalating legal battles between B.C. and Alberta, the federal government has promised to indemnify the pipelineB次元官网网址檚 investors against any losses.
More to come.
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