F O R I M M E D I A T E R E L E A S E
April 12, 2024
Natural Law New Brunswick
Mitchell Albert
506 477 0269
JUDGE RULES IN FAVOUR OF PROVINCE IN EXPROPRIATION CASE
It was another packed courtroom on Wednesday, April 10th, as concerned members of the public gathered to support Tommy Craft as he disputes the expropriation of his land in the Saint John courthouse.
Mitchell Albert, Tommy Craft’s power of attorney, stood by Craft to represent him during the hearing. Justice Grant started off by hearing two motions that were brought forth before the court as part of Mr. Craft’s defence strategy.
First, was a motion to intervene by New Brunswick representative of Stand4THEE, Adie Pearson. Adie intervened as an expert witness on the homelessness issue in Saint John. Mr. Craft’s home seconds as an income property that can house up to 15 residents and the loss of this home not only affects Craft, but the tenant he is currently housing. Pearson also raised the concern around the lack of public consultation that is required as part of due process in the expropriation process.
Despite being contrary to the evidence, Crown Prosecutor Jason Cassie, rebutted that there were no indications that the province had done any wrongdoings, that they followed the expropriation act as obligated. However, they further admitted that there could have been discrepancies from other parties previously involved. Cassie then asked the Court to deny the motion, with costs. Ms. Pearson defended herself, saying she was there in an act of good faith, and as stated in the Magna Carta “Law is never to be sold” and while the motion was dismissed, Justice Grant agreed with Ms. Pearson and dismissed the claim of costs.
Justice Grant then heard an injunction from Mitchell Albert, Mr. Craft’s power of attorney. This injunction brought forward the lack of due process, and most importantly the fact that no homeowner should be left destitute because of expropriation. Mr. Craft’s previous lawyer, who abandoned Mr. Craft the night before his previous hearing in January, failed to explain to Mr. Craft the expropriation process or procedures which is the not only a lawful, it’s also the moral and ethical, obligation of a lawyer. In fact, As Mr. Albert expressed in the court, it appears that everyone involved has acted above their lawful authority.
Mr. Cassie argued that the breaking of ground to build the new school was due to happen any day and suggested to Justice Grant that Mr. Craft’s warrant to vacate his home be issued for one week’s time as not to delay the project. Mr. Albert interjected and brought forward the fact that the District Education Council has yet to finalize the plans for the new school project and when Mr. Albert asked the Crown to provide the plans of the school that ‘was ready to break ground’, Cassie was either unable or unwilling to provide these plans.
Mr. Albert further noted that Mr. Craft is willing to vacate the property, however, the lack of due process and adequate payment for his house warrants arbitration. Mr. Albert asked the court to reexamine the original agreement to relocate Mr. Craft’s home to a new plot of land. Mr. Albert further suggested the Crown is using the expropriation act as a cloak for fraud. Justice Grant said the hearing was not a trial, and after refusing to accept evidence on the contrary, Justice Grant’s opinion was that he believed there was no evidence of fraudulent behaviour.
Justice Grant ruled against Mr. Craft and the warrant to evict was issued. Cassie had asked to exercise the warrant within a week’s time; however, Justice Grant extended the eviction until June 1st. And although disappointed in the Judge’s ruling, Mr. Craft is going to continue to fight for what is right and to force the province to uphold the law.
No homeowner should be left destitute through the expropriation process. If we allow the provinces to forego due process, we will become lawless, and no one will be safe from having their property taken.
Link to interview with Tommy Craft: https://rumble.com/v47m6vq-stand4thee-live-5pm-est-property-rights-at-risk.html
F O R I M M E D I A T E R E L E A S E
April 09, 2024
Natural Law New Brunswick
Mitchell Albert
506 477 0269
TOMMY CRAFT IS CHALLENGING THE PROVINCE'S AUTHORITY TO EXPROPRIATE HIS HOME
***COURT APPEARANCE TOMORROW, APRIL 10TH, 2024 AT THE SAINT JOHN COURTHOUSE, ROOM #8 AT 9:00AM***
Homeowner Tommy Craft will be appearing at the Saint John, New Brunswick court tomorrow, April 10th, as he fights to save his home from expropriation initiated by the province.
In the summer of 2023, Tommy’s life was turned upside down when he received notification the province was going to expropriate his home through the Expropriation Act for the purpose of building a new school. Many of his neighbours were coerced from their homes and were forced to find new accommodations in a difficult housing market. Tommy wasn’t so quick to abandon the home he had lovingly rebuilt after the original house was destroyed in a fire.
Tommy began negotiation with the province to relocate his home, however, was blindsided by the province when he received notification that his home had been expropriated at the sole direction of the Lieutenant Governor, Brenda Murphy. Murphy finalized the expropriation and initiated a partial payment for the value of his home, which was less than half of the original assessed value, with the remainder of the payment being paid directly to the CRA to cover an outstanding tax balance. All of this was done without Tommy having a chance to have his day in court.
Not only is the province attempting to force Tommy out of his place of residence, but Tommy’s home is also used as his office for the successful small business ‘Craft’s Moving and Storage’. In addition, Tommy rents out rooms in his house that help those less advantaged by subsidizing rent and even offering a trade on rent for work. The loss of his home will have a huge impact within a community that is already experiencing a housing crisis and an unprecedented homeless population.
Tommy’s case has exposed the failure of the province to fulfill its obligation under the Expropriation Act and has shed light to a growing issue that is spreading across the country as people are being forced off their land under the guise of “progress”. The provinces have an obligation to fulfill legal requirements, in Tommy’s case due process was not followed and Tommy’s goal is to exercise his legal rights and to expose the incompetence and corruption within the expropriation process.
Tomorrow, Wed, April 10th, Tommy will go before a judge in the Saint John Courthouse to continue the eviction proceedings. Tommy will be presenting a motion to stay the proceedings based on the following grounds:
We are confident when the facts are presented that a judgement will be made in Tommy’s favour.
Link to interview with Tommy Craft: https://rumble.com/v47m6vq-stand4thee-live-5pm-est-property-rights-at-risk.html
An update will be provided after Wednesday’s appearance.
PRESS RELEASE
F O R I M M E D I A T E R E L E A S E
FEBRUARY 12, 2024
Rebecca Sheppard, Stand4THEE
WOMAN CONVICTED OF “COUGHING” ON WORKER ACQUITTED OF ALL CHARGES
It was with great relief that Kimberly Woolman, a disabled senior from Campbell River BC won her appeal and was acquitted of all criminal charges and her sentencing quashed.
On April 24, 2020, Ms. Woolman was shopping at the Campbell River Save-on-Foods grocery store to purchase food for her elderly mother who was living in a long-term care home.
As Ms. Woolman completed her shopping and was ready to check out, she suddenly found herself in an altercation with a store clerk, Jackeline Poulton. Ms. Poulton attempted to force Ms. Woolman to verbally “promise” that she would follow the social distance rules, and that if she did not verbally “promise” Ms. Woolman would not be allowed to purchase her groceries. The demand of Ms. Woolman was inflammatory and without merit as Ms. Woolman was following the social distancing orders in place at the time.
It was during this initial interaction with Ms. Poulton that the alleged cough took place. Ms. Poulton claimed that Kimberly coughed in her direction. However, the witness statements and testimonies are riddled with fabrications and contradict one other. Ms. Woolman was successful in presenting these inconsistencies during cross examination and in her closing arguments.
The situation escalated further when 4 other Save-on-Food clerks joined Ms. Poulton and began to harass Ms. Woolman, who is disabled, following her throughout the store as she attempted to leave. Ms. Woolman was verbally abused; Ms. Poulton kicked Ms. Woolman’s grocery cart and another clerk attempted to snatch the cart out of Ms. Woolman’s hands after she explained she had forgotten her cane in her car and needed the cart to assist her in walking to her car.
After an entire year had passed since the date of the incident Ms. Woolman was shocked when she was arrested at the side of the road and was taken to the police station to be processed and fingerprinted. She was charged with 2 counts of assault and 1 count of causing a disturbance.
Ms. Woolman then spent over two years, and countless hours preparing her defence and presenting it in the court as a self-represented litigant. To Ms. Woolman’s dismay, and despite the video evidence and inconsistent witness statements and testimony that prove otherwise, Ms. Woolman was found guilty.
Ms. Woolman was not prepared to accept the guilty ruling and quickly began the appeal process to prove her innocence. In her appeal she again noted the contradiction of the video evidence, witness statements and testimony and clearly articulated the errors of the ruling in her arguments.
On January 11, 2024, Ms. Woolman appeared before the Supreme Court of BC to have her appeal heard. She presented the key points in her factum to the court to a fair and reasonable judge, Justice Thompson. A judgement was not concluded in this appearance as Justice Thompson gave himself time to review all the case material.
On February 8th, 2024, Ms. Woolman received the final appeal decision by Justice Thompson. To the relief of Ms. Woolman, Justice Thompson concluded that all charges were acquitted, and the sentencing quashed. He cited that the Crown had not satisfied the burden of proof that Ms. Woolman acted with mens rea (intention to commit a crime) and due process was not followed by the trial judge as Ms. Woolman was denied the right to bring in a character witness.
We are very pleased that justice has prevailed and Ms. Woolman’s innocence, and faith in the justice system, has been restored. However, little can be done to resolve the emotional trauma she has suffered from inflammatory mainstream media reports, from various individuals who have attempted to publicly humiliate her and from the actions of those five Save-on-Foods employees who viscously accosted a disabled senior.
Link to an interview with Ms. Woolman regarding her court win: https://rumble.com/v4c8x8i-live-5-pm-est-tonight-feb-8th-big-win-in-court-today.html
…30…
F O R I M M E D I A T E R E L E A S E
January 23, 2024
Natural Law New Brunswick
Mitchell Albert
506 477 0269
A SAINT JOHN RESIDENT'S EXPROPRIATION CASE ADJOURNED UNTIL APRIL 10, 2024
Saint John, NB - In a packed courtroom in the City of Saint John, Tommy Craft, a resident of 114-116 St James St in the South End, faced a pivotal moment in his battle to retain his home. Craft's lawyer had withdrawn representation on Friday, leading Craft to advocate for himself before Justice Grant on Monday, utilizing a special power of attorney.
Justice Grant entered the courtroom after 3 pm, where the province's prosecutors urged the finalization of Craft's expropriation case and the issuance of a removal warrant, as he had exhausted all possible extensions. In Craft's defense, his Special Power of Attorney, Mitchell Albert, addressed the court, asserting that Craft had been subjected to a significant abuse of due process.
Justice Grant acknowledged the inadequacy of the initial three-week warning for Craft to vacate his home and recognized that Craft had surpassed or was nearing the end of all extension times. Albert argued for an adjournment, emphasizing the need for Craft, now self-representing, to thoroughly examine the expropriation process, identifying potential risks of harm to all parties involved, including Craft's lone remaining tenant.
Agreeing with Craft, Justice Grant advised him to use his time wisely, suggesting the futility of further court battles against the Expropriation Act, a power he deemed gross by the government, and acknowledged as such by the Supreme Court. Grant recommended an adjournment until February 22, 2023, recognizing Craft's right to shelter, particularly during a housing crisis, and questioned the government's pursuit of expropriations at such a time.
Craft's Special Power of Attorney highlighted Craft's literacy challenges, the possibility of filing an injunction based on fraud, and the substantial evidence requiring examination, proposing a later date for the proceedings. Responding to these concerns, Justice Grant decided to adjourn Craft's case until his next availability after February 22, setting a new hearing date for April 10.
The gallery, filled with members of the public, expressed their approval with applause, underscoring the public's interest and community support for Craft's case.
F O R I M M E D I A T E R E L E A S E
January 22, 2024
Natural Law New Brunswick
Mitchell Albert
506 477 0269
A SAINT JOHN MAN’S LIVELIHOOD DESTROYED AND FACES HOMELESSNESS THIS WINTER.
COURT APPEARANCE TODAY, JANUARY 22, 2024 AT THE SAINT JOHN COURTHOUSE, 4TH FLOOR AT 3PM
Tommy Craft has been a resident at 114-116 St James St in the South End of Saint John for decades. He has owned his current home since he built it in 2006, after a fire devastated his duplex that stood on the grounds prior. This house is more than Tommy’s home, it’s an income property and a rental property where Tommy has helped disadvantaged people with affordable housing.
In the summer of 2023, the residents of St James Street were notified that province was going to expropriate their land through the Expropriation Act to build a new school. The people were coerced from their retirement/rental homes under the guise of needing to build a new school. Only one man on that street stood to negotiate with the province, and that man is Tommy Craft.
Tommy began negotiations with the government to move his home or build around it. To his dismay and without due process as is required per the Expropriation Act. Tommy soon realized his home had already been signed over on his behalf, by the Lieutenant Governor of New Brunswick, with the remainder of the expropriation going directly into his bank account, less than half of the assessed value of the home. All of this was done without Tommy having a chance to have his day in court.
Tommy, although nearing retirement, runs a successful small business ‘Craft’s Moving and Storage’ out of his home as well. So not only are many people ending up homeless and destitute by this expropriation, but a small business owner now faces even more challenges after just recovering from his recent struggles associated with the pandemic.
The province has failed to conduct meaningful public consultation regarding the plans of this future school and 'mental health hub for youth', depriving the community of the opportunity to voice concerns about the expropriation and question its alignment with individual rights. At a time of intense homelessness, overrun hospitals, and a disastrous housing crisis, kicking more people out of their homes is inappropriate and irresponsible.
Today, Monday, January 22, Tommy will be before a judge in the Saint John Courthouse facing eviction proceedings. Tommy will be asking for an adjournment on the following grounds:
1. The Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure has acted above its statutory authority established in the New Brunswick Transportation Authority Act, RSNB 2014, c 123 in the exercise of expropriating private land for the purpose of the establishing a new school facility. The authority to establish schools rests with the District Education Council as per the Education Act, SNB 1997, c E-1.12.
2. Tommy’s lawyer quit because his lawyer was unwilling to put forward the legal challenges Tommy requested, leaving Tommy without legal representation at the last minute.
3. Tommy’s reading disability has not been accommodated and in fact the Lieutenant Governor, who signed the expropriation, is aware of his disability as she has a deep connection to the family.
4. Jim Flemming, Tommy’s one remaining tenant, has not been compensated by the province for his eviction as is required per section 44(2) of the Expropriation Act.
Link to interview with Tommy Craft and his niece Bobbie Craft: https://rumble.com/v47m6vq-stand4thee-live-5pm-est-property-rights-at-risk.html
Updates will be provided after Monday’s hearing.
F O R I M M E D I A T E R E L E A S E
February 15, 2023
Stand4THEE
Rebecca Sheppard
p. 416-561-8398
WOMAN CONNECTED TO 4 MEN CHARGED WITH CONSPIRACY TO MURDER RCMP OFFICERS CLEARED OF ALL CHARGES. BOGUS EVIDENCE AND POSSIBLE POLICE PERJURY
PRESS CONFERENCE WITH JOANNE PERSON THURS, FEB 16TH @ 5PM (EST)
It was with great relief that Joanne Person from Coutts Alberta was finally cleared from all charges on January 16, 2023. Joanne was charged with 1 count of Firearms Possession and 1 count of Mischief Over $5,000.00 for allegedly aiding and abetting protesters in Coutts on Feb 14, 2022.
Joanne was brutalized by police when her home was invaded by dozens of police and charges were unjustly laid against her. Her charges were sensationalized in the media where she was publicly portrayed as a domestic terrorist, a dangerous gun slinging threat to the community, and a leader of the Coutts convoy. This inflammatory media portrayal of Joanne ruined her career and her reputation in the community and has been the cause of much stress and suffering.
Joanne Person will be holding a press conference on Thurs, Feb 16th @ 5PM (EST) and is inviting the press:
Zoom Link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82252811812?pwd=Y2ZpVlR0Yk9ET1ZFanVXbm1DUGswQT09
Meeting ID: 822 5281 1812
Joanne’s Story:
On February 14th, 2022, at 12:30 AM my house was suddenly surrounded by dozens of police vehicles with their lights flashing. The police called me while outside in an attempt to get me to come out to meet them, which I was afraid to do given the intensity of the situation. My daughter was on the line with me as the officer lied as he told me I wouldn’t be arrested, that they only wanted to search my house. He denied me the ability to read the warrant prior to the search. I reluctantly gave in to the demands and agreed to meet the police outside.
When I stepped out of my door, I was immediately slammed into the hood of a police car, violently handcuffed, and aggressively forced into the back of one of the cruisers. I suffered severe pain to both arms, wrists, neck, broken teeth, a torn ligament in my right shoulder and abdominal pain and may need a hernia repair. I was taken to the Coaldale Police station where I was placed in a cell filled with filth; spit, blood, urine, and faeces and was denied my heart medication, humiliated, and threatened repeatedly.
My only crime was that I showed kindness to participants of the convoy. I offered a warm shower, a place to rest, hot meals and had allowed two RV trailers to park safely in my yard instead of on the highway.
I have more than 5 hours of recording of the police search of my home on Feb 14th, 2022. I did not use this recording for my own defence. I did not use a lawyer, so my legal costs were limited to gas, parking, and lost shifts. I self-represented with the help of Stand4THEE, Jane Scharf and other amazing people who reminded me; I had nothing to fear, I did nothing wrong!
I stood on the truth and won my case using the Canadian and Alberta Bill of Rights which protects my right to life, liberty, security of person and enjoyment of property and equality before the law and protection of the law: including my freedom of speech, and freedom of assembly and association.