Two special prosecutors have independently concluded criminal contempt-of-court charges are warranted against federal Green Party Leader Elizabeth May and a former MP for protesting Kinder Morgan’s Trans Mountain pipeline expansion.
On April 11, two special prosecutors were appointed to consider the case of two members of Parliament arrested along with other protesters at the work site on March 23.
Vancouver Lawyer Greg DelBigio has been appointed to deal with the case involving May, who represents Saanich-Gulf Islands. May said last week she could not speak to the issue, as it is before the courts.
Vancouver mayoral candidate Kennedy Stewart pleaded guilty to one count of criminal contempt in B.C. Supreme Court on Monday, the CBC reported. He was fined $500 for breaching a court injunction at the work site.
May and Stewart, the former Burnaby South MP, were arrested March 23 while protesting the Trans Mountain pipeline expansion project at Kinder Morgan’s Burnaby terminal.
They were charged with civil contempt of court over allegations that they protested within five metres of two Trans Mountain construction sites in Burnaby, despite a court injunction prohibiting such protests.
Criminal contempt involves the public interest in administering justice, according to the B.C. government’s website.
“A criminal contempt often involves a mass disobedience of a court order, which tends to bring the administration of justice into disrepute or scorn,” it says.
