REGINA — Minister of Justice and Attorney General Tim McLeod has indicated he will allow the justice system to run its course with respect to the self-proclaimed “Queen of Canada” Romana Didulo and others arrested in Richmound.
Didulo was among 16 people arrested by police after a search warrant was executed in Richmound during the early morning hours of Sept. 3. Didulo was later charged with breaching a court order and attempting to intimidate a justice system participant.
Minister McLeod was asked about the Richmound situation during a media availability Monday. He was particularly asked about the length of time it took for the situation in Richmound to be addressed.
“Certainly, we’ve been watching that situation very carefully, very closely,” said McLeod. “It’s one where I know the RCMP have been monitoring it very carefully, and when there was cause for the RCMP to go in and do an investigation and make arrests, that happened.
“Now we will allow the process to unfold as it’s supposed to.”
The situation in Richmound had gone on for a couple of years, in which Didulo and a number of the so-called “Kingdom of Canada” followers had taken over an abandoned school.
McLeod acknowledged the concerns raised from members of the Richmound community who had been in contact with the government about the situation there.
“Yeah, we’ve certainly received letters of concern from folks within the community. Again, highlighting the concern for us, but as the minister responsible, I don’t direct policing. We certainly oversee it and make sure that communities have the policing that they need. And in this case, the RCMP were very engaged, very watchful of the situation, and when the time was appropriate, they acted.”
Didulo was released from custody under several conditions on Monday, following a bail hearing in Swift Current provincial court. Among her conditions is that she is not allowed to visit the village of Richmound. As well, the abandoned school building in Richmound has been ordered vacated by Saskatchewan Health Authority.
– With files from Jeremy Simes, Canadian Press.
