The verdict is in, and Pastor Artur Pawlowski has been found guilty by a judge for violating Alberta's Critical Infrastructure Defence Act.

Pastor Artur became the first person charged — and now convicted — under this piece of provincial legislation, originally drafted in the aftermath of railway and pipeline protests in the early portion of 2020.

The Critical Infrastructure Defence Act charges came about after Pastor Artur delivered a passionate sermon to a group of truckers and their supporters who were blockading the Canada-U.S. border crossing in Coutts.

Officials alleged this speech put the outspoken critic of COVID-19 lockdowns and mandates in violation of the act, a viewpoint the judge agreed with.

Rebel News' Ezra Levant was in Lethbridge, reporting live from the courthouse as the verdict happened, where he noted the deciding factors that led the judge to this conclusion.

"Looking at the context of the speech and the content and the tone, I am satisfied beyond a reasonable doubt that Artur intended to incite the audience to blockade."

— Ezra Levant 🍁🚛 (@ezralevant) May 2, 2023

Judge said Solidarity movement was a reference to "paralyzing" society, to achieve goals. [This bodes well for government prosecutors.]

— Ezra Levant 🍁🚛 (@ezralevant) May 2, 2023

Judge quotes Artur saying that they have more momentum at the blockade and power at the Coutts border, as opposed to going somewhere else, like Edmonton. Says not to "break the line".

— Ezra Levant 🍁🚛 (@ezralevant) May 2, 2023

The 19-minute speech was posted by the pastor to his YouTube page.

Despite this setback, Pastor Artur Pawlowski has achieved numerous legal victories after he was repeatedly charged for feeding the homeless in violation of COVID restrictions and protesting lockdowns and mandates.

I guess you throw enough charges against a guy, one of them will eventually stick. As Lavrenti Beria, the head of Soviet secret police said, ""Show me the man and I’ll find you the crime."

— Ezra Levant 🍁🚛 (@ezralevant) May 2, 2023