ON October 28, New Westminster Police Department officers began investigating Quarantine Act violations of a resident who had recently re-entered Canada from the United States. Despite being reminded of the federal legislation that requires travelers to self-isolate under the Quarantine Act, and receiving a violation ticket, Makhan Singh Parhar refused to comply and continued leaving his residence. On Monday, November 2, at approximately 11 p.m., New Westminster Police arrested Parhar for repeated violations under the Quarantine Act.

“Our priority is the safety of New Westminster residents,” said Sgt. Sanjay Kumar. “Violations of the Quarantine Act put others at risk. Travelers are required to self-isolate for 14 days whether or not they have symptoms. This is something we take very seriously.”

Makhan Singh Parhar, 47, of New Westminster has been charged with three counts whereby he contravened section 54(1) of the Quarantine Act which required him to self-isolate for 14 days upon re-entry into Canada, contrary to section 71 of the Quarantine Act.

Parhar is being held in custody.

CBC reported that Parhar – aka Mak Parhar – is a COVID-19 conspiracy theorist who recently travelled to Greenville, South Carolina, for an event called Flatoberfest 2020 — a gathering of conspiracy theorists who believe the Earth is flat, according to his Facebook.

He participated in a rally in front of the Vancouver Art Gallery on Sunday and bragged about breaking the mandatory 14-day self-isolation period upon his return to Canada.

In March, the City of Delta had cancelled his business licence for his hot yoga studio after he encouraged clients to continue attending classes, making the false claim that the novel coronavirus “cannot survive in the heat.”

Anyone who has concerns for the safety of others and suspects a traveler of violating the Quarantine Act is asked to contact the New Westminster Police Department at 604-525-5411.