Anyone following the current Covid lawsuits before our Canadian court system must surely be ready to pull their hair out. While we watch our southern neighbours feast on rulings in favor of the citizen’s rights, we continue to beg to come to the table in Canada.

The case brought before the Appeal Court by Brian Peckford, Maxime Bernier, Shaun Rickard and Karl Harrison by the JCCF over the Travel Mandates was again dismissed, with the Federal Court’s ruling on mootness upheld.

The case sought declaratory relief which is a determination on whether the rights of the people were violated without awarding damages. Or, in simpler terms, was the government justified in its actions in enacting the mandates for travel.

The Judges in both courts stated that since the mandates were no longer in effect, there is no conflict between the parties.

What was most striking is paragraph 35 of the Appeal Court’s decision.

” I also note that there is a difference between a case that raises an issue in which many people are personally interested in having a decision, and a case that raises “an issue of public importance of which a resolution is in the public interest”, per Borowski at p. 361. The Federal Court was clearly concerned that a decision in the appellants’ applications would not be of sufficient value to the public in future circumstances to justify the significant resources that would be required to hear and decide them…”

For those who weren’t already aware, 20,000 people signed up to watch this hearing. Twenty thousand. In what world does this not demonstrate a public interest that, at the very least, should prompt the court to hear the articulation from the government on their actions?

Also of note, Mr. Peckford is the last living signatory of the Charter of Rights and Freedoms and helped draft the Charter prior to it becoming law in 1982. When someone such as this claims the Charter was violated, that in and of itself should be deemed to be in the public interest, no?

Now, more than ever, we need to stand up for ourselves, peacefully, and demand government accountability. Regardless of your position on political issues, those making decisions on your behalf must always be made accountable to those they serve.