O Canada threat case results in discharge

A New Brunswick man has received a conditional discharge for threatening a school principal who scaled back the daily singing of O Canada at his daughter's school.

Bradley Howland, 43, of Hatfield Point was also ordered Friday to stay away from Erik Millett and Millett's partner, and not to go near the school for eight months unless accompanied by his wife.

"Educators have a tough enough job without being subjected to this type of harangue," provincial court Judge Henrik Tonning said during sentencing in Sussex.

Howland, who had about a dozen supporters with him in the courtroom, showed little reaction to the sentence. But he did apologize to Millett and asked for his forgiveness.

Millett told reporters outside the courthouse that he was satisfied with the sentence.

He also announced plans to file a lawsuit against two people for public comments they made about him during the storm of controversy. One of them isMinister of Veterans Affairs Greg Thompson, who is also MP for New Brunswick Southwest.

"If he fails to hold a press conference and apologize for his statements, which were defamatory towards me, if he fails to do that, I call upon the Prime Minister to fire him from cabinet," said Millett.

He also wants a letter of apology from Susan Boyd, the Belleisle parent who initially raised concerns about the anthem, he said.

Neither Thompson nor Boyd were available for comment Friday.

Guilty of uttering threats

Howlandwas found guilty last month of uttering threats to cause serious bodily harm to Millet, who was at the time the principal of Belleisle Elementary School, and causing Millett to fear personal injury.

Millett, who has since left his post, told the court Howland threatened to "beat [him] senseless."

Millett stepped down as principal after a countrywide controversy erupted in January over his decision to reserve the singing of the national anthem for monthly assemblies. Two families had complained for religious reasons about O Canada being sung daily over the school's PA system.

Tonning said it was "regrettable" the case had to come this far. The judge described the case as "serious," but said he didn't think Howlands comments were "malicious." The judge noted that Howlands friends, in letters of support to the court, said he "often becomes disengaged with his mouth" and that his passion for this issue "misguided his words."

Tonning said he believes Howland, who owns several businesses, is an upstanding citizen who"now understands the principle of keeping one's mouth shut."

But he had to consider the principle of deterrence in sentencing, he said. People need to know its not acceptable to threaten educators.