An anti-mask rally in Steinbach drew a large crowd Saturday afternoon. (Source: CTV News\/Danton Unger)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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WINNIPEG — \n\tHundreds of Manitobans gathered in Steinbach to protest COVID-19 \nrestrictions implemented across the province, which led to at least one \nof the rally’s speakers being handed a $1,200 ticket for violating the \nvery orders they were protesting.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\tOn Saturday afternoon, an estimated 500 people gathered for a ‘Hugs \nover Masks’ car rally in Steinbach, a city that is currently \nexperiencing a surge in COVID-19 cases. According to provincial data, \nthe Southern Manitoba city has 263 active cases, and has reported 14 \ndeaths – the highest number of any area in the Southern Health region.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\tCTV News has previously reported that Steinbach has one of the highest \ninfection rates in the country. Three kilometres away from the rally is \nBethesda Regional Health Centre, which is also currently dealing with \nspiking cases.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\tLewis Weiss, the elected Reeve for the RM of La Broquerie, was among the speakers at the rally.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\t“It seems very strange that our loved ones are being allowed to die \nwhen there are medicines available that very quickly and easily can cure\n this,” he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\tWeiss was joined at the rally by a number of speakers including a pastor, a former chiropractor, and other community members.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\tMinutes after the rally ended, a provincial conservation officer handed\n Weiss a ticket of $1,296 for violating public health orders. This is \nthe maximum amount an individual can be fined under current orders in \nManitoba. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\tConservation officers wrote Lewis Weiss, a speaker at the rally and\n Reeve of La Broquerie, a ticket. (Source: CTV News\/Danton Unger)<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\tWeiss told CTV News he believes he “put a target on my back” by speaking out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\tRally attendees responded by yelling, honking and berating the officer,\n surrounding provincial personnel and media. A person at the rally \nappeared to back their car into one of the responding provincial \nofficers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\tA spokesperson for the province told CTV News enforcement officials \nwere on the scene and issued tickets, saying Manitoba Justice will \nprovide more specific information once all the tickets have been \nprocessed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\t“Our government finds it particularly disappointing to learn that \nexcessive verbal abuse was directed at enforcement officials who were on\n site and issuing tickets,” they said. “These enforcement officials \nshould be commended for doing their part to help keep Manitobans safe \nfrom the kind of irresponsible behaviour that was on display today.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\tThey did not say how many tickets were issued.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\t“Each person here in this country is so incredibly important, and I \nhave nothing but compassion for everybody here, regardless of what side \nyou are on, regardless of your beliefs,” said Kayla, one of the \nattendees at the rally.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\t“What we’re seeing here is people gathering from all different races, \nnationalities, backgrounds, careers and they all just want one thing, \nand that is freedom.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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