A freedom rally was held Friday night in Winkler with attendees gathering on the parking lot off Grandeur Avenue.

People’s Party of Canada (PPC) leader Maxime Bernier was scheduled to speak at the event, but according to a statement released by the RCMP, he was arrested earlier in the day near St. Pierre, and charged under the Public Health Act with Contravening a Provision of the Act for assembling in a gathering at an outdoor public place and for failing to self-isolate in accordance with the Order upon arrival in Manitoba. The party leader had scheduled a number of rallies this weekend in Southern Manitoba, including several stops earlier Friday in Southeastern Manitoba. The RCMP said under the Provincial Offences Act of Manitoba, Bernier was arrested to prevent the continuation of an offence, and would be taken before a magistrate.

Recently nominated Portage-Lisgar PPC Candidate Solomon Wiebe was at the rally, and spoke to those in attendance.

“I’m not here to rile anybody up with a boisterous speech, I’m not here to cause more division in our country, there’s enough, I’m not here for political theatre to bore you with some politician’s ramblings, I’m here because I think we need

Solomon Wiebe speaking Friday night to ask a question,” began Wiebe’s remarks. “That question is if a human authority, or a government, should have the power to decide who or what is essential, and what I should and should not wear on my body, and what I should put in my body. That is a question we all need to ask. If you think about that, and the ramifications of that question, the world can become a very dangerous place, so we’re trying to prevent that from happening.”

He continued, “I’m not anti-vaccine, I’m not anti-mask, I am pro-freedom, I’m pro-choice to do as you please without having to consult the government to go to a wiener roast with your friends, go to church or attend another gathering you want to attend. These are freedoms that were given to us not by the government, so the government does not have the authority to take them away. They are in our Charter (of Rights and Freedoms).”

Those in attendance were also given the opportunity to speak to the crowd.

Meantime, Morden-Winkler MLA and Manitoba Justice Minister, Cameron Friesen, said earlier this week justice officials are aware of rallies planned across the province for this weekend. As with previous events, he noted officials are monitoring the situation, gathering intelligence and working in partnership with law enforcement agencies.

"We know the hospitalization rates are too high, and daily COVID-19 case numbers are too high during this third wave, and therefore such gatherings are not permitted," said Friesen. "Our message to people is, now is not the time for rallies that break the public health orders. Stay with us, changes are coming, a re-opening plan is coming, restrictions are lifting, we're moving in the right direction."

The MLA noted his constituency office has been getting a large volume of correspondence on the issue.

"I would tell you that most of the responses we're receiving are, why are these rallies allowed to happen?" said Friesen. "Of course, they aren't permitted to happen. Rallies are taking place, and we can be there to intervene appropriately. I think people want to know that there's consequences for when people are choosing to defy public health orders."

"I know people are weary, I know people have complied for a long time, I know many are saying changes need to come. My message to those people is changes are on the way," said Friesen.