Mayoral candidate says he's still working as 'advocate for justice' despite court order prohibiting it

A Saskatoon mayoral candidate's campaign launch event took a strange turn last week when he admitted he's acting in open defiance of a Court of Queen's Bench order.

Mark Zielkeowns a car repair business and a communications company. He has also been in legal hotwater for his work as a self-described "advocate for justice."

Last year, a Saskatoon Court of Queen's Bench judge ordered Zielke to stop representing people on legal matters, as he does not have a law degree.

On Friday, after a speech in which he confirmed his 2020 election bid, Zielkesaid he "absolutely" continues to work as an advocate for justice.

"I stand beside and walk beside those who are falling through the cracks. What that means is I help people in a myriad of different legal situations and also help them withgood advice," he said outside Living Sky Cafe in downtown Saskatoon.

Asked about the Court of Queen's Bench order, Zielke replied, "Their decision doesn't impact me at all."

He added that he has filed an appeal and "I still have not received a date."

Watch Zielke's comments below.

Law society concerned

Appellants are required to file an appeal book and factum in order for an appeal to proceed toward a court hearing.

The Saskatchewan Court of Appeal confirmed Monday that nothing beyond Zielke'snotice of appeal has been filed.

"Mr. Zielke must complete and file his written argument (factum) and provide it to the Law Society [of Saskatchewan] for a response before a hearing can be scheduled in the Court of Appeal.He has not completed this step," said Tim Huber, the law society's deputy executive director.

"It appears that he may not understand the process related to his own legal matter, which underscores the law society's concerns with him providing legal services to others."

Huber said the law society is considering a response to Zielke's statement that the court order has no effect on him, "and his admission that he has been violating that order."

Accepting fees

Zielke said some of his clients are new Canadians or people who can't afford lawyers' fees and that he volunteers his services "many times."

Asked if he accepts fees, Zielke replied, "I accept a nominal fee when I choose to, for research."

Last year, after the court order, Zielke told the Saskatoon StarPhoenix he would continue with his work but not charge a fee.

Lisa Watson, the co-chair of theSaskatoon Criminal Defence Lawyers Association, said lawyers are bound by a code of professional conduct.

"Non-lawyers are not bound by similar constraints, which creates a potential risk to the public," she said.

'I follow all the rules'

Zielke was also asked Friday about his views on mask use during the COVID-19 pandemic, in light of tweets showing him without a mask as he stood within two metres of other people.

Zielke said masks are not a campaign issue.

"I love when people wear them, I have worn them when I need to, and I follow all the rules," he said.

The day before his campaign launch speech, Zielke tweeted a photo of himself shaking hands with someone.

"Those people are in my personal bubble," he said of his tweets. "I have a wide group of friends and I meet with them regularly."

Against increasing police budget

When it came to his campaign,Zielke said he's against "grandiose schemes or projects," singling out projects such as theplanned new $134-million downtown library. The library project is not under the direct control of city council, though many other candidates have cited it as a campaign issue.

• Some candidates are wary of plans for a new $134M downtown library. Here's why

Zielke also spoke against increasing the Saskatoon Police Service budget.

"I believe we need to rationalise every department's budget," he said."This means having an independent overview and in-depth analysis, which brings to light where we're bleeding as a city."

He spoke infavour of moving the downtown Lighthouse shelter, saying he had five potential new locations in mind, although he declined to specify them.

• A history of Saskatoon tax increases, and why some mayoral contenders say enough is enough

He also advocated relocating the bus mall currently located on 23rd Street E, between 2nd Avenue N and 3rd Avenue N.

"What used to be a prestigious area of the city has become a ghetto. We need to reinvigorate the downtown core," he said.

The City of Saskatoon has confirmed its intention to eventually move the location of the bus mall, although the timeline for that remains unclear.