The Alberta Law Society’s September 2, 2025 decision to disbar John Carpay is a vindictive abuse of process.
In 2021, the Alberta Law Society expressly delegated disciplinary proceedings against Mr. Carpay to the Manitoba Law Society regarding a matter involving surveillance of government officials, including a Manitoba judge. The surveillance was performed in June 2021, for no other reason than to illuminate a legitimate public policy question: were politicians and judges complying with the stringent Covid restrictions that they themselves had imposed on the public?
Mr. Carpay acknowledged that including a judge in the surveillance was a mistake. He publicly apologized for his error in judgment in July 2021.
In August 2021, the Alberta Law Society explained in unequivocal language that it was delegating disciplinary proceedings to the Manitoba Law Society, and that the Alberta Law Society was closing its file and taking no further steps.
The Manitoba Law Society proceedings against Mr. Carpay concluded in August 2023. Mr. Carpay was ordered to pay $5,000 and to respect a lifetime ban on practicing law in Manitoba.
In October 2023, Manitoba Crown Prosecutors stayed all criminal charges against Mr. Carpay, who was innocent of any criminal wrongdoing.
In December 2023, Mr. Carpay submitted his letter of resignation to the Alberta Law Society.
However, the Alberta Law Society then refused to accept Mr. Carpay’s resignation, and commenced new disciplinary proceedings against him, regarding the same conduct for which Mr. Carpay had already been disciplined and punished by the Manitoba Law Society.
A hearing before the Alberta Law Society finally took place on May 28, 2025 – nearly four years after the incident had occurred.
The Alberta Law Society’s decision to refuse Mr. Carpay’s resignation, and to commence brand new disciplinary proceedings over the same issues after delegating the matter to the Manitoba Law Society, is a vindictive and petty abuse of process.
Mr. Carpay has not practiced law for years. He last appeared in court on behalf of a client in 2015. The Justice Centre for Constitutional Freedoms has no staff lawyers, and all legal work is done by outside counsel.
All legal costs related to this matter have been and continue to be covered entirely by Mr. Carpay.
Today’s decision does not impact the vital work of John Carpay or the Justice Centre for Constitutional Freedoms. We continue to defend the constitutional rights and freedoms of all Canadians.
