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New Democrat MP Kennedy Stewart, who was arrested with May as they protested with about 100 others, pleaded guilty to criminal contempt of court two weeks ago. He paid a $500 fine, but said later he did not regret his actions.

May’s lawyer, Alex Ejsmont, apologized to the court on his client’s behalf and proposed a fine of $500.

Photo by Darryl Dyck / The Canadian Press

However, Affleck said May’s punishment had to be greater than it was for others who do not hold positions of authority. He ordered her to pay a $1,500 fine.

May said outside court she respects the judge’s decision that she should face a stiffer fine but believes non-violent civil disobedience has a place in a functioning democracy.

“I’m holding my head up high,” she said. “My job continues, to do everything I can to represent the constituents of Saanich-Gulf Islands, to protect the Salish Sea, to stand with First Nations in solidarity and to continue to speak, as we can in a democracy, against this project.”

May said she will reassure her constituents in the Vancouver Island riding that she was not charged with a Criminal Code offence.

“I’m not a convicted criminal. This is a common law offence under an unusual provision around enforcement of private injunctions,” she said, adding her role as an MP is not affected by her guilty plea.

May paused and looked at her lawyer before saying she would not repeat her actions, though she vowed to keep up her fight against the pipeline expansion.

Photo by Darryl Dyck / The Canadian Press

Kinder Morgan has set a deadline for Thursday to decide if it has enough certainty to proceed with the twinning of its existing pipeline from Edmonton to Burnaby. May said she expects the company to cancel the controversial project that the federal government approved in the national interest.