Man found guilty for blockade participation remains defiant

Despite being found guilty of criminal charges in connection with an impassioned speech given during the height of a border blockade in Coutts, Alta., a controversial Calgary pastor is unrepentant.

“The fight is still on,” said Artur Pawlowski outside Lethbridge’s Alberta Court of Justice while addressing a crowd of his supporters, after he was found guilty of mischief and breaching his release conditions on a previous charge.

Pawlowski, 50, was arrested Feb. 8, 2022, on charges of breaching his release conditions from earlier allegations, and mischief. He was also charged under the provincial Critical Infrastructure Defence Act for impeding the highway leading to Coutts.

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The charges stem from a speech given by Pawlowski at the Smugglers Saloon, which acted as a headquarters for blockade organizers.

In this speech on Feb. 3, 2022, which was the main evidence used during his two-day trial earlier this year, Pawlowski discouraged blockaders from leaving Coutts for protests in Edmonton or Ottawa.

“Mr. Pawlowski’s speech was intended to incite the protesters to continue the blockade. It is not logical to conclude his actions were solely communicative,” said Justice Gordon Krinke in leveling his guilty verdict, dismissing the free speech defence. “His comments were designed to spur on the protesters to continue the blockade.”

That speech included Pawlowski telling a packed Smugglers Saloon, “don’t you dare break the line.”

Pawlowski also told the crowd that if they left Coutts to another protest, “they’ll be lots of honking, they’ll be lots of syrup on the road and lots of promises that will never be met.”

Pawlowski also compared Alberta’s then-premier Jason Kenney and chief medical officer of health Dr. Deena Hinshaw as villains along with their federal counterparts Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Dr. Theresa Tam.

In an address to supporters, Pawlowski reiterated his support of the farmers and truckers who took part in the Coutts blockade, which was part of nationwide protests against COVID-19 public health restrictions.

“Not only do I not regret that I was part of the truck convoy, I cherish it. It’s dear to my heart. During that time, I saw solidarity like I have never seen before in this country of ours,” said Pawlowski.

In a phone call just before the trial, which was recorded by Pawlowski and released by the Alberta NDP, Premier Danielle Smith commiserated with the pastor on his legal situation and spoke about her efforts to see the charges withdrawn.

Despite the sympathetic tone of that conversation, Smith described Pawlowski as a person who, “holds some very extreme views that I disagree with completely,” during her province wide radio broadcast following the release of the call.

Since the beginning of the Alberta general election, Smith has parried questions regarding her conversation with Pawlowski, along with her statements that she was in contact with Crown prosecutors on the file.

Smith said her statements were “imprecise” and threatened the CBC with a defamation lawsuit for reporting she was in contact with Crown prosecutors on Pawlowski’s case.

She has also described the conversation as one between two party leaders because Pawlowski was the heading the Alberta Independence Party at the time. He has subsequently been ousted from that position.

The provincial ethics commissioner is investigating whether Smith has interfered with the administration of justice.

A sentencing date for Pawlowski on criminal mischief and breach charges will be scheduled later this year.

An outcome of the remaining charge under the provincial Critical Infrastructure Defence Act is unclear because it is uncertain the legislation is constitutional.

Contact alex.mccuaig@producer.com