Witness Testimony

James Paquin testified that he operates a Canadian wine import business in Japan and was residing there when COVID-19 measures were implemented. He described significant financial losses due to global logistics disruptions, including sharp increases in container shipping costs, bottle shortages, winery price hikes, and depreciation of the Japanese yen against the Canadian dollar. He estimated that a single large shipment resulted in approximately $50,000 in losses as a result of combined supply chain and inflationary pressures.
Paquin further testified that Canadian travel restrictions, including quarantine requirements and potential fines, effectively prevented him from returning to Canada to visit friends and family since 2019. He characterized these measures as violations of Charter rights and stated that the financial, legal, and logistical burdens made travel impractical. He also described long-term strain and breakdown of family relationships arising from disagreements about pandemic policies and information sources.
Comparing Japan and Canada, Paquin testified that Japan did not impose general lockdowns similar to Canada’s measures, relying largely on voluntary compliance. He described minimal business closures, brief gym shutdowns, continued domestic travel, and widespread masking driven by social conformity. He argued that Japan experienced low mortality in 2020 without severe restrictions and questioned the scientific justification for certain Canadian public health policies.