Montreal church fined for hosting Christian singer

The Democracy Fund has taken on the legal defence of the Montreal church fined for having U.S. Christian singer Sean Feucht perform at one of its services. 

Montreal church fined for worship service; TDF takes on legal defence | The Democracy Fund (news release):

Sean Feucht in 2021.  Photo by
Gage Skidmore, Wikimedia Commons.

July 28, 2025 - "The Democracy Fund [TDF] has stepped in to represent Ministerios Restauración/Église MR — the Montreal church at which US-based artist Sean Feucht worshipped on July 25, 2025. 

"Ministerios Restauracion Church was issued a ticket with a fine in the amount of $2,500 for engaging in Christian worship at a Friday service. 

"Video shows police entering the Church before or during the worship service. Later, protesters attempted to forcefully shut it down.

"Feucht, a Christian musician and activist known for leading large outdoor worship events across the U.S., was in Montreal as part of a Canadian visit. His presence drew criticism from local activist groups.

"Officials accused the Church of violating municipal bylaws related to event permits or zoning. However, no such regulations prohibit regular worship gatherings.

"TDF litigation director, Mark Joseph, said:

 'Freedom of religion is a fundamental freedom under s.2(a) of the Charter: you do not need permission or a permit from the government to worship at a church in Canada. It is absurd to suggest otherwise, and it risks setting a dangerous precedent that will extend to all religions. TDF and its lawyers intend to fight this matter and are eager to respond to this obvious Charter infringement in court.'....

"Legal fees are expected to be sizable in this case, but TDF is committed to supporting religious freedom for all Canadians. We will need your help to defend the Ministerios Restauración Church: please consider making a charitable donation to TDF. 

"Founded in 2021, The Democracy Fund (TDF) is a Canadian charity dedicated to constitutional rights, advancing education, and relieving poverty. TDF promotes constitutional rights through litigation and public education and supports an access to justice initiative for Canadians whose civil liberties have been infringed by government lockdowns and other public policy responses to the pandemic."

Read more (or donate) here: https://www.thedemocracyfund.ca/montreal_church_fined_for_worship_service_tdf_takes_legal_action

Court waives $38K in ArriveCan fines on Amish

A provincial court has waived more than $38,000 in outstanding fines on Ontario Amish who were convicted in absentia during the Covid pandemic, and faced loss of their homes and farms. for not using the controversial ArriveCan app.

TDF secures new victory for Amish: over $38,000 in fines waived | The Democracy Fund (news release):

June 05, 2025 - "The Democracy Fund (TDF) has achieved a significant legal victory for a group of Amish individuals convicted under the Quarantine Act for failure to complete the ArriveCan app. Following a May 22, 2025 court appearance, seven months of negotiations and numerous court appearances, TDF lawyers successfully had the group’s convictions set aside, resulting in over $38,000 in fines being waived.

"The Amish community, known for their traditional lifestyle and faith-based avoidance of modern technology, faced legal challenges after crossing the border at Niagara Falls. Their inability to use smartphones or interact with modern technology made it almost impossible to comply with the strict and continually-shifting COVID-19 regulations, particularly requirements involving the ArriveCan app. TDF took the position that the Amish did not receive proper notice of the offences, trial or conviction. They were convicted in absentia, and subsequently fined over $38,000. However, with the assistance of TDF, their cases were reopened, and through persistent advocacy, the convictions were ultimately set aside with fines being waived.

"For these Amish families, who depend on farming and community support, the prospect of paying such excessive fines was daunting. This resolution ensures that these legal entanglements do not threaten their livelihoods and properties.

"TDF Litigation Director Mark Joseph stated, 'This outcome is a testament to the importance of access to justice for all Canadians, regardless of their background or way of life. We are pleased that these families can now move forward without the burden of these oppressive fines. The Amish are extremely grateful for the support they've received from TDF donors.'

"While this case has been resolved, TDF continues to advocate for other members of the Amish community and other Canadians facing similar challenges with the legal system. The organization remains committed to defending constitutional rights and ensuring that all individuals receive fair treatment.

Founded in 2021, The Democracy Fund (TDF) is a Canadian charity dedicated to constitutional rights, advancing education, and relieving poverty. TDF promotes constitutional rights through litigation and public education and supports an access to justice initiative for Canadians whose civil liberties have been infringed by government lockdowns and other public policy responses to the pandemic."

Read more: https://www.thedemocracyfund.ca/tdf_secures_new_victory_for_amish

Misinformation allegations withdrawn over Covid statements by Alberta doctor

Last year Alberta's College of Physicians and Surgeons charged pathologist Dr. Roger Hodkinson with making "inaccurate or misleading" statements that breached the CMA Code of Ethics  during the Covid pandemic, for which he could have lost his license. Hodkinson admitted breaching the Code but not to any inaccuracy, and received a simple caution. 

Outspoken but not inaccurate: medical tribunal makes no finding of misinformation by Dr. Hodkinson | The Democracy Fund (news release):

April 4, 2025 - "Dr. Roger Hodkinson will retain his medical license following a hearing before the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Alberta (CPSA), which resulted in minimal sanctions against the outspoken pathologist. Dr. Hodkinson faced allegations of unprofessional conduct regarding 17 public statements made in November 2020 and April 2021. His remarks were critical of public health officials and presented an alternative perspective on COVID-19, including the efficacy of masking and vaccines. 

Dr, Roger Hodkinson (courtesy TDF).

"Initially, the CPSA alleged that his statements were inaccurate or misleading. However, following negotiations with lawyers for The Democracy Fund, the CPSA limited its claims to arguing that Dr. Hodkinson’s comments violated the ethical code and extended beyond the scope of a general pathologist. While Dr. Hodkinson did not concede that any of his statements were false, he acknowledged that his criticisms of other physicians technically breached the Code of Ethics and Professionalism. He also admitted that he should have clarified that his views were outside the scope of a general pathologist.

"The case was resolved through a joint submission, resulting in Dr. Hodkinson receiving a caution and being required to complete an online course on influence and advocacy.

"Alan Honner was retained by TDF to represent Dr. Hodkinson. 'Dr. Hodkinson acknowledged that he could have used more measured language when critiquing physicians with whom he disagrees,' said Honner. 'However, he did not concede that any of his statements were misinformation, nor did the tribunal make such a determination.'

"Dr. Hodkinson now joins prominent health professional Dr. Jordan Peterson, who[m] their respective regulatory bodies have cautioned for making public comments that diverge from the official narrative.

"Last year, Alberta Premier Danielle Smith pledged to review the province’s regulated professions to ensure that the freedom of speech of professionals is adequately protected. She also committed to legislative changes to ensure that professionals are regulated based on competence and conduct rather than speech. 

"Dr. Hodkinson strongly supports safeguarding free speech for health professionals. 'The essence of progress in all scientific matters, including medicine, is debate regarding scientific findings,' he stated.

"Dr. Hodkinson earned his medical degree from Cambridge University and completed his pathology residency in Vancouver. He has served as an assistant clinical professor at the University of Alberta and as past Chair of the Royal College specialty examination in pathology. With several publications and awards to his name, he had until now maintained a spotless disciplinary record over his 50-year career."

Read more: https://www.thedemocracyfund.ca/outspoken_but_not_inaccurate

Ontario judge reopens Amish ArriveCan cases

The Democracy Fund has convinced an Ontario court to reopen the cases of five Amish fined for crossing the Canada-U.S. border without using the Trudeau government's controversial ArriveCan app.  

Court reopens Amish tickets: TDF lawyers secure significant legal victory | The Democracy Fund (news release):

October 09, 2024 - ""The Democracy Fund (TDF) has successfully reopened a number of ArriveCan tickets for five Amish clients. These individuals received tickets in 2021 and 2022 for allegedly failing to complete the ArriveCan app but had not received any notification of court dates or convictions, leading to outstanding fines being sent to collections and, in some cases, liens placed against their family farms. 

"These individuals, due to their faith, avoid modern technology. They do not use any form of electricity and have little to no experience using a telephone, much less navigating an app on a modern smartphone.

"TDF recently filed documents with the court seeking to have these tickets reopened. The court has now granted this request, which will allow the clients to receive a Notice of Trial and, eventually, set a trial date. Adam Blake-Gallipeau, Senior Litigation Counsel at TDF, remarked{:} 

It was clear that these clients did not receive adequate information regarding their tickets. The Amish are a vulnerable religious minority and have limited engagement with modern legal systems. In cases where their properties have liens registered on title, it makes it difficult to obtain loans or to transfer farms to the next generation. We are pleased that the tickets have been reopened and look forward to arguing our case in court.

"TDF lawyers will now request and review disclosure, engage with Crown counsel, and, if necessary, proceed to trial. Although this is an initial victory, the real work of having these tick[:ets stayed, withdrawn or resolved at trial now begins. TDF has a number of additional Amish clients who require help and have since learned that there may be other Amish communities impacted by outstanding liens and fines. We're committed to advocating for the rights of the Amish and ensuring they receive fair treatment.

"If you'd like to support the Amish community in their fight, please consider making a tax-deductible donation on this page.

https://www.thedemocracyfund.ca/court_reopens_amish_tickets_tdf_secure_legal_victory

"Founded in 2021, The Democracy Fund (TDF) is a Canadian charity dedicated to constitutional rights, advancing education, and relieving poverty. TDF promotes constitutional rights through litigation and public education and supports an access to justice initiative for Canadians whose civil liberties have been infringed by government lockdowns and other public policy responses to the pandemic."

Trudeau Liberals take aim at peaceful Amish community over ArriveCan compliance | Rebel News | September 26, 2024:

Bridge protester wins appeal of criminal sentence

Theodorus DeBoer, who received a suspended sentence and a criminal record for his involvement in the Freedom Convoy protests that shut down the Ambassador Bridge in 2022, has won his appeal to have the sentence varied and the criminal record vacated.  

TDF wins appeal for man who received criminal record as a result of Windsor protest | The Democracy Fund (news release):

September 10, 2024 - "The Democracy Fund (TDF) has won an appeal for a man who received a criminal record in connection to the protests that shut down the Ambassador Bridge in February 2022. TDF’s client, Theodorus DeBoer, pleaded guilty to one count of mischief in relation to obstructing traffic leading up to the bridge back in November 2023.  

"As part of a plea deal TDF lawyers negotiated, the prosecution agreed to drop the more serious charge of disobeying a court order. The prosecutor and the defence then made a 'joint submission' on sentencing, asking the trial judge to discharge DeBoer with conditions as opposed to any sentence that would carry a criminal record. The trial judge, however, took the unusual step of rejecting the recommendation of the lawyers and imposed a suspended sentence, which involve[s] probation and a criminal record.

"According to Alan Honner, the lawyer whom TDF retained to argue the appeal, judges are required to give way to joint submissions except in rare circumstances.... The Appellate Court agreed with Honner’s submission that the trial judge erred by applying the wrong legal test. It varied the sentence to bring it into conformity with the original joint submission: the criminal record was vacated.

"TDF was heavily involved in representing the rights of protestors in Windsor. It sent lawyers to the city to provide summary legal advice to protestors, made legal submissions to the court on the parameters of the Superior Court injunction that prohibited anyone from blockading the bridge and represented over a dozen protestors criminally charged in connection to the protests.

"With this successful appeal, not a single TDF client ended up with a criminal record....

"Founded in 2021, The Democracy Fund (TDF) is a Canadian charity dedicated to constitutional rights, advancing education, and relieving poverty. TDF promotes constitutional rights through litigation and public education and supports an access to justice initiative for Canadians whose civil liberties have been infringed by government lockdowns and other public policy responses to the pandemic."

Read more: https://www.thedemocracyfund.ca/tdf_wins_appeal_criminal_record_windsor_protest

Charges dropped against Ont. lockdown protestor

The Ontario Crown has withdrawn all charges against Randal Linton of Waterloo, Ontario, who was charged after video of him at a 2021 anti-lockdown rally circulated online. 

Crown withdraws charges against Waterloo father following anti-lockdown rally | The Democracy Fund (news release):

August 02, 2024 - "The Crown Attorney's office has officially withdrawn all charges against Randal Linton, a Waterloo resident who attended an anti-lockdown rally in 2021. 

"Mr. Linton had been charged with failure to comply under the Reopening Ontario Act and an additional charge under the Emergency Management and Civil Protection Act. Upon conviction, Mr. Linton could have been jailed for a maximum of 1 year and fined up to $100,000. 

"As part of the resolution, Mr. Linton agreed to make a $300 donation to the local Food Bank. 

"Mr. Linton attended the rally to protest the government's restrictions on social gatherings, a stance captured on video - which eventually led to the charges being issued by the police.

"Adam Blake-Gallipeau, lawyer with The Democracy Fund (TDF), expressed satisfaction with the outcome. 'Mr. Linton's participation in the rally was a legitimate exercise of his Charter rights to peacefully assemble and express his views. We are pleased that he can now move forward with his life,' said Blake-Gallipeau.

"TDF's advocacy resulted in the withdrawal of the charges through negotiation, highlighting the importance of vigorous defence counsel in protecting individual rights.'I wouldn't have been able to pay a serious fine, and the stress on my family was huge. I'm grateful for the work TDF did,' Mr. Linton commented....  

"About The Democracy Fund: Founded in 2021, The Democracy Fund (TDF) is a Canadian charity dedicated to constitutional rights, advancing education, and relieving poverty. TDF promotes constitutional rights through litigation and public education and supports an access to justice initiative for Canadians whose civil liberties have been infringed by government lockdowns and other public policy responses to the pandemic."

https://www.thedemocracyfund.ca/crown_withdraws_charges_waterloo_father_anti_lockdown_rally

Amish fined for not downloading ArriveCan app

Members of the Amish community in Chatsworth, Ontario (who do not use electricity or smartphones) have been hit with almost $400,000 in fines for not downloading the Canadian government's ArriveCan app.  

Amish community fined $400,000 for failing to download ArriveCan app | Rebel News 

August 15, 2024 - "In the serene countryside of Chatsworth, a community of Amish farmers lives as if in the 18th century, adhering strictly to their faith and traditions. Their simple way of life — without electricity, telephones, or the internet — sets them apart from the rest of the modern world. Yet, this peaceful community is now grappling with a problem no one would have expected.... 

"The problem began with the Canadian government's enforcement of the ArriveCan app during the COVID-19 pandemic. This app was mandatory for anyone entering Canada, requiring travellers to submit their health information digitally. The Amish, however, do not use smartphones, let alone apps. They also have religious exemptions from vaccinations, making the use of such technology unnecessary and intrusive for them. Yet, despite these clear exemptions, the government insisted on compliance, leading to severe penalties....

"The Amish community in Chatsworth has been slapped with nearly $400,000 in fines for not using the ArriveCan app. This is a community that doesn’t use electricity, let alone digital applications. The fines were not just a bureaucratic oversight — they were a targeted action. The government even went so far as to place liens on their properties, effectively freezing their ability to obtain loans and transfer land titles within families. 

"These punitive measures have left the Amish community in a state of shock and despair. Imagine being a farmer in need of a loan to buy cattle, only to be told that your property has a lien on it because of fines related to an app you cannot even use.

"This situation is not just an attack on the Amish economy; it’s a direct assault on their religious freedoms. The government’s actions have created an uneven playing field, where a community that lives without modern conveniences is being punished for not participating in a digital system....  

"Fortunately, The Democracy Fund has stepped in. They’ve begun taking up the cases of these Amish families, working to overturn the unjust fines and remove the liens placed on their properties. However, the road ahead is long and fraught with challenges, especially given the unique nature of the Amish community’s way of life.

"The Amish may not fight back themselves — they are pacifists by nature — but they have welcomed the help of others who see the injustice in what’s happening. This is not just a fight for the Amish; it’s a fight for religious freedom and the right to live according to one’s beliefs without government interference."

Read more: https://www.rebelnews.com/amish_community_under_attack_over_digital_mandates_they_didnt_know_existed

Amish community fined $400,000 for failing to download ArriveCan app | Rebel News | August 15, 2024:

Alberta doctor charged over Covid comments

Alberta virologist Dr. Roger Hodkinson has been charged with professional misconduct by the provincial regulatory body for giving his medical opinion on the coronavirus during the pandemic. 

TDF represents Dr. Hodkinson in misconduct hearing over COVID statements | The Democracy Fund (news release):

July 24, 2024 - "The Democracy Fund (TDF) is defending Dr. Roger Hodkinson in his legal fight with respect to several complaints brought against him by the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Alberta (CPSA).

Dr, Roger Hodkinson (courtesy TDF).

"The CPSA has charged Dr. Hodkinson with professional misconduct, alleging that he wrongly commented on the efficacy of masks and social distancing in preventing the spread of COVID-19, the usefulness of vitamin D in protecting against COVID-19, the necessity and unqualified safety of COVID-19 vaccines, and the COVID-19 testing protocol.

"The CPSA's Amended Notice of Hearing setting out the allegations can be found here.

Dr. Hodkinson's lawyer, Sarah Miller, said: 'The CPSA continues to prosecute Dr. Hodkinson for expressing his opinions on the government's response to COVID-19. We are proceeding to a five-day hearing in November for the CPSA to hear and determine whether Dr. Hodkinson breached his obligations under the Code of Ethics and Professionalism. The hearing represents a considerable use of resources to exercise authority over Dr. Hodkinson's public expression of his closely held beliefs.'

To help Dr. Hodkinson in his legal battle, you can make a tax-deductible donation on this page:

https://www.thedemocracyfund.ca/tdf_lawyers_proceeding_disciplinary_hearing_dr_hodkinson_accused_misconduct_statements_covid_vaccine_lockdowns

"About The Democracy Fund: Founded in 2021, The Democracy Fund (TDF) is a Canadian charity dedicated to constitutional rights, advancing education, and relieving poverty. TDF promotes constitutional rights through litigation and public education and supports an access to justice initiative for Canadians whose civil liberties have been infringed by government lockdowns and other public policy responses to the pandemic."

https://www.thedemocracyfund.ca/tdf_lawyers_proceeding_disciplinary_hearing_dr_hodkinson_accused_misconduct_statements_covid_vaccine_lockdowns

Read Dr. Hodkinson's medical opinion here:
https://gdspoliticalanimal.blogspot.com/2020/11/alberta-md-condemns-covid-hysteria.html

Ontario crown halts mask prosecution mid-trial

In the middle of Windsor, Ontario, lawyer Antoine d'Ailly's trial for allegedly violating the Reopening Ontario Act by not enforcing a mask mandate in his office, the Crown prosecutor abruptly withdrew all charges.

TDF secures win for Windsor lawyer in mask mandate case | The Democracy Fund:

November 10, 2023 - "The Democracy Fund (TDF) has successfully defended Windsor lawyer Antoine d'Ailly against allegations that he failed to enforce provincial masking requirements in his law office. Mr. d'Ailly was charged in December of 2020 under the Reopening Ontario Act, which required businesses to enforce masking requirements, subject to numerous exemptions.

Antione d'Ailly, LinkedIn.

"During the trial of November 1, 2023, the prosecution withdrew the charge against d'Ailly after a brief cross‐examination of the Crown's sole witness by TDF. The cross‐examination revealed multiple inconsistencies in the evidence of the Windsor‐Essex County Health Unit's (WECHU's) enforcement officer.

"While Mr. d'Ailly implemented a policy of not demanding proof from members of the public who claimed a masking exemption, his policy was in compliance with applicable law at all times. Despite [his] being on the right side of the law, multiple complaints were made against d'Ailly, resulting in surveillance of his law office and other enforcement measures by WECHU officers.

"Mr. d'Ailly was defended at trial by TDF's Litigation Director, Alan Honner, who says the applicable regulation clearly states that a person need not provide proof of an exemption to the masking requirement. Honner insists that his client was legally and morally justified in not demanding proof of exemptions, and it was the enforcement officers who did not understand the law when they charged d'Ailly....

"Prior to the trial, TDF retained local paralegal Kristen Jarvis to bring a motion for particulars to insist that the crown identify the specific provision under which d'Ailly was being charged. Jarvis's success on that motion was critical to TDF's ultimate win at trial.

"TDF believes in standing up for persons who are wrongfully charged with breaching constitutionally‐ suspect masking laws. To help us in this fight, you can make a tax‐deductible donation on this page to support our work....TDF supports an access to justice initiative for Canadians whose civil liberties have been infringed by government lockdowns and other public policy responses to the pandemic."

Read more: https://www.thedemocracyfund.ca/tdf_scores_victory_windsor_lawyer_provincial_masking

The Democracy Fund slams Rouleau report

In a Monday press release, Canada's Democray Fund accused the Rouleau Commission of using a "standard [which] was flexed in favour of a government that used unprecedented emergency powers against its ideological opponents." 

The Democracy Fund slams Public Order Emergency Commission final report | Western Standard - Lee Harding:

February 27, 2023 - "The Democracy Fund says it understands why some Canadians are “puzzled” that the Public Order Emergency Commission justified Ottawa’s use of the Emergency [War Measures] Act against freedom convoy protesters.... 'If anything, it seemed like the Freedom Convoy was remarkable for its lack of violence, especially for a protest of its size.  Any violence that did occur was minor and atypical of the protest dynamic,' the TDF legal team wrote in a Monday press release....

"TDF suggested Roleau could reach this conclusion not because it was the one most likely, but because it was reasonably possible. 'The federal government did not need conclusive proof that there were acts or threats of serious violence for ideological purposes. They only needed to show there were "reasonable grounds" to believe that there were,' the release said.... The organization suggested the use of this standard had a dubious history of uses against minorities.

 It is the standard that police use when deciding to arrest a person without a warrant, which they have historically done to the detriment of certain minorities in our country. 

That’s not because the standard is inherently bad. Rather, it’s because the standard is inherently flexible…it generally flexes in the direction of our beliefs and prejudices or in the direction of what is popular or expedient. It can also flex in accordance with external pressures....

"Canada received international criticism for its use of Emergencies Act. One month later, while [he was] visiting the European Parliament, some members criticized the Prime Minister. Mislav Kolakusic, a Croatian lawyer and MEP, said Canada had become a 'symbol of civil rights violation'.... 'We watched how you trample women with horses, how you block bank accounts of single parents so they can’t even pay their children’s education and medicine, that they can’t pay utilities, mortgages for their homes,' said Kolakusic....

"German MEP Christine Anderson, who recently toured Canada, also condemned Trudeau as a 'disgrace for any democracy' last March. 'A prime minister who openly admires the Chinese basic dictatorship, who tramples on fundamental rights by persecuting and criminalizing his own citizens as terrorists just because they dared to stand up to his perverted concept of democracy should not be allowed to speak in this house at all,' she said....

"The TDF believes the commission had comments of this sort in mind when rendering its decision. 'How would it look if Canada exercised emergency powers against its own citizens when there were no grounds to do so? It might look like Canada is not immune from the authoritarianism we criticize in other countries,' said TDF. ''The Emergencies Act was also on trial, in a way, as it had never been invoked'….

What we do know is that the standard was flexed in favour of a government that used unprecedented emergency powers against its ideological opponents. The use of these powers against Canadians has set a new and dangerous precedent for what constitutes an emergency in a free and democratic society and what actions the government is justified in taking against its own people in the future. The protestors were Canadians who were ignored, mocked, and suppressed by a government that refused to engage with them....

The future will tell whether the feelings of division and mistrust driving this protest will be exacerbated by the report and whether the commissioner should have used the flexibility of the reasonable grounds standard to send a different message to this government.

"Founded in 2021, The Democracy Fund is a Canadian charity dedicated to constitutional rights, advancing education and relieving poverty."

Read more: https://www.westernstandard.news/news/the-democracy-fund-slams-public-order-emergency-commission-final-report/article_e04bcd80-b6e4-11ed-b515-dbc87faa6688.html

Read full Democracy Fund response here: https://www.thedemocracyfund.ca/tdf_responds_poec_report