Lawyers demand that RCMP and TD Bank explain freezing of peaceful protestor’s bank accounts
OTTAWA, ON: The Justice Centre for Constitutional Freedoms announces that lawyers for Mr. Evan Blackman are seeking key records from the RCMP and Toronto Dominion Bank concerning the freezing of his bank accounts. Mr. Blackman, who still faces mischief and obstruction charges for his involvement in the peaceful Freedom Convoy protest, will argue that the freezing of his bank accounts violated his constitutional rights.
Mr. Blackman was initially arrested on February 18, 2022, during police enforcement actions following the federal government’s invocation of the Emergencies Act. While he was released that same day, he soon discovered that three of his personal bank accounts had been frozen without notice.
Mr. Blackman recalled, “It was an absolute shock to find out my bank accounts were frozen.”
“As a self-employed worker, it not only affected my family, but my employees as well,” he added.
At Mr. Blackman’s original trial on October 23, 2023, he pleaded not guilty to charges of mischief and obstructing a police officer. The Crown’s evidence consisted of a 14-minute drone video with no audio and the testimony of a single police officer. In the video, Mr. Blackman can be seen deescalating tensions by holding back other protestors, raising his hand to prevent confrontation, and kneeling in front of police while singing O Canada.
The trial judge acquitted Mr. Blackman of all charges, citing limited evidence and the poor memory of the officer on key details.
Despite this, the Crown appealed.
Mr. Blackman’s retrial is scheduled for August 14, 2025. If he is convicted, lawyers provided by the Justice Centre will bring an application under section 24(1) of the Charter, arguing that the freezing of Mr. Blackman’s bank accounts violated his constitutional rights, and that, as a remedy, there should be a stay of his proceedings.
Constitutional lawyer Chris Fleury explained, “The freezing of Mr. Blackman’s bank accounts was an extreme overreach on the part of the police and the federal government.”
“We are hopeful that the Court will compel the RCMP and TD Bank to produce records that explain exactly how and why his accounts were frozen,” he added.
