A judge has ordered the Leader of the People's Party of Canada to pay in excess of $2,000 in fines related to violating Manitoba public health orders. 

Maxime Bernier, who is a candidate in the Portage-Lisgar by-election, appeared in court on Tuesday to challenge his arrest in June of 2021 and other related COVID-19 fines. 

Bernier had scheduled a number of rallies in southern Manitoba during the weekend of June 11, 2021, including stops in Niverville, St. Pierre and St. Malo. He was arrested near St. Pierre. At the time, RCMP confirmed that Bernier knew of the health orders and had already received a ticket. The continuation of the offense of violating the public health orders in Manitoba led to his arrest just outside of St. Pierre.

In court this week, Bernier admitted to travelling to Manitoba without quarantining and hosting public meetings in violation of the ongoing COVID-19 restrictions. 

He was charged with failing to isolate in Niverville, failing to isolate in St. Pierre, gathering in Niverville and gathering in St. Pierre. 

Bernier must now pay a $1,300 fine in addition to costs and surcharges amounting to approximately $2,000. He has 30 days to pay the fines. 

In a press release, Bernier issued a statement on how he thinks constituents in Portage-Lisgar will feel about him now that the court has made its decision:

"I think they will be very proud," he says.

Voters in Portage-Lisgar will head to the polls for a by-election on June 19th.