A Calgary man charged with threatening the life of Prime Minister Mark Carney edged closer to resolving his case Thursday, as his defence lawyer confirmed that a formal early case resolution offer is now on the table and under review.
Jamie Da Costa, 31, appeared in a Calgary courtroom via closed-circuit television, while his lawyer, Adriano Iovinelli, attended in person. Iovinelli told the court that special prosecutor William Tran had provided what he described as “a rather lengthy early case resolution” covering Da Costa’s current matters as well as separate, unrelated charges. The case was adjourned to October 7, with Justice Paul Mason granting the request.
Speaking to reporters outside the courtroom, Iovinelli offered a measured but telling characterization of where the proceedings stand. The resolution being considered, he said, “is going to include some type of reports,” and he acknowledged that underlying personal circumstances will weigh heavily on the outcome. “There are either mental-health or addiction issues,” Iovinelli said, adding that much of what happens next will depend on the findings of those assessments. His stated goal is an outcome that addresses “the needs of our client and the protection of the community” — a formulation that signals a process attentive to both individual circumstances and public safety.
Da Costa remains in custody at the Calgary Remand Centre while the review proceeds. He was arrested by the RCMP and charged with uttering a threat to cause the death of Prime Minister Carney, with the alleged threats said to have extended to members of the prime minister’s family as well. Beyond the charge directly involving Carney, Da Costa faces a separate cluster of allegations — extortion, criminal harassment, uttering threats to cause death, mischief involving damage exceeding $5,000, and being disguised with intent — matters that the special prosecutor’s resolution offer also appears to encompass.
The alleged threats against Carney are said to have originated in a YouTube video posted on a channel registered in Da Costa’s name and dated July 25. Court documents indicate the relevant conduct occurred between July 25 and 26, with the RCMP becoming involved on July 28. The video, described in court documents as encouraging Canadians to travel to Ottawa and commit an act of violence against Canada’s leader and his family, has since been removed from the platform. A YouTube Canada representative confirmed by email that “the channel was taken down for violating our community guidelines,” and the channel now returns a notice that it “isn’t available.”
The case will return before the court on October 7, when the direction of the resolution — and the weight assigned to whatever mental health or addiction assessments are ordered — is expected to become clearer.
