Friesen calling for Justice Centre for Constitutional Freedoms investigation

Manitoba's Justice Minister says he is calling for an investigation into the gravely concerning following of Manitoba's Chief Justice.

Earlier this week, Manitoba Court of Queen's Bench Chief Justice Glenn Joyal shared during a dispute between seven Manitoba churches as they challenge the Public Health Orders that he was being followed, including going to his home. Soon after, a lawyer representing the churches and others with the Justice Centre for Constitutional Freedoms said the organization's president had hired a private investigator to follow him. The centre's president, John Carpay, resigned Tuesday.

"We condemn what was done without reservation. We apologize to Chief Justice Joyal for the alarm, disturbance, and violation of privacy. All such activity has ceased and will not reoccur in future," the centre says in a Tuesday statement.

Now, Minister Cameron Friesen is asking for an investigation into this organization.

"It is gravely concerning that a private investigator was hired to conduct surveillance of a member of the judiciary, ostensibly to embarrass or intimidate the judge. This is an obvious invasion of privacy and it is difficult to believe that these actions were not intended to influence the outcome of the court case," Friesen says in a statement Thursday.

"The lawyers involved must be held accountable for their actions, in order to maintain public confidence in the administration of justice, to protect the integrity of our independent judiciary and uphold the rule of law in Canada."

He says he has written as Attorney General to the Law Society of Manitoba to begin investigating the conduct of lawyers associated with the Justice Centre for Constitutional Freedoms.

The Winnipeg Police Service is also investigating.