Western Standard - May 02, 2023


Ontario township councillor charged for participating in Freedom Convoy, 15 months later


Episode Stats

Length

5 minutes

Words per Minute

122.187126

Word Count

619

Sentence Count

49


Summary

In this episode, I talk about the charges against me, my family and friends, and the support I received from the people of West Lincoln and surrounding areas. I will be appearing in court on May 10, 2023.


Transcript

00:00:00.000 Thank you all for coming here. This means a lot to me.
00:00:06.060 For some reason, the Ottawa Police have decided to charge myself with four counts of criminal charges.
00:00:12.660 I can't remember exactly what they are. I'll find that out right now as I head into Niagara Region Police Station here in Grimsby to turn myself in.
00:00:24.240 My youngest ones are here with me and my wife, as well as all these beautiful people behind the camera.
00:00:32.900 But kind of an emotional week finding out from a police officer in Niagara that the Ottawa Police have put out a warrant for my arrest for our involvement in a beautiful, peaceful, wonderful convoy that gave so many Canadians hope and joy.
00:00:49.300 Thank you.
00:01:19.300 To be here for my daughter and ended up having to do this as well. Thanks.
00:01:24.300 Love you, Isaiah.
00:01:26.360 Yep, thanks.
00:01:27.960 Love you, people.
00:01:30.520 Gideon.
00:01:32.400 Hey, Gavin.
00:01:41.300 Gideon, you drunk or please?
00:01:45.700 Thanks, thank you.
00:01:49.300 Yeah, I just, uh, Harold Jonker here and I just came out of the, uh, Niagara Police Station.
00:02:00.360 I've been, uh, officially charged with four counts of criminal charges.
00:02:06.380 One count of mischief, one count of mischief, obstruct property, one count of intimidation by blocking or obstructing highway, and then two counts of counsel, counsel and uncommittable, no, sorry, counsel and uncommitted, indictable offense.
00:02:27.600 Whatever that means.
00:02:28.600 Whatever that means.
00:02:29.600 We'll find out when we go to Ottawa, I imagine.
00:02:31.600 They did give me a bit of a summary of the, the, the, the, the charges, but they don't really say much more than what I just read there.
00:02:40.820 For the purpose of compelling one or more persons to abstain from doing anything that the person has a lawful right to do.
00:02:48.780 Um, the other ones are counseling and uncommittable, did counsel to commit the indictable offense of mischief.
00:02:58.840 I'm a mischievous person, I guess, and did counsel to commit the indictable offense of intimidation, which offense was not committed by one or more persons.
00:03:12.480 And then all the, they didn't, they didn't do the crime.
00:03:14.800 No.
00:03:15.100 Even though you can counsel to it.
00:03:16.720 Yeah.
00:03:17.400 Yeah.
00:03:17.740 So pretty confusing, but I think this is what all the other wonderful leaders of the convoy were charged with.
00:03:24.800 And I'm very thankful to, uh, have my wife here.
00:03:30.600 My family was here as well.
00:03:32.660 And a bunch of, uh, my drivers are drivers from Jocker Trucking and, um, friends, as well as the former mayor of West Lincoln.
00:03:42.780 And, yeah, May 10th, 2023, I have to go to Ottawa to turn myself in.
00:03:52.020 I've just signed a bond.
00:03:54.800 Or, how do they call that, a, uh, yeah, a bond saying that I will appear on May 10th at 9, no, at 8.30 at a courtroom.
00:04:06.340 And then at 9 o'clock, I have an appointment to get my fingers printed.
00:04:09.420 So, I'll try to have, make sure they're in good shape for that.
00:04:12.880 And we are, uh, I was thankful for the, uh, the reception I received here, not just from a bunch of the people from West Lincoln and their surrounding area, but also from the officers here.
00:04:26.660 And, uh, very thankful that I was able to have an officer that, uh, read out the charges.
00:04:34.360 And, but also at the end, we were able to have a brotherly hug in the Lord.
00:04:40.860 And, yeah, we're concerned.
00:04:44.340 This is not easy, but at the same time, we know that our Heavenly Father takes care of us.
00:04:50.580 And, yeah, May 10th in Ottawa.
00:04:54.740 Also, I'll be in Ottawa now, May 11th for March for Life.
00:04:57.960 You can become a Western Standard member for just $10 a month or $99 a year for unlimited access.