Freedom Convoy organizer acquitted on all counts

Harold Jonker, Niagara region 'road captain' for the 2022 Freedom Convoy — who was charged with four counts of mischief and intimidation more than a year after the protest was over — was acquitted this week on all counts.  

Judge rules Crown did not prove any criminal wrongdoing by Niagara business owner Harold Jonker. JCCF photo. 

Freedom Convoy victory: Trucker Harold Jonker cleared of all charges in Ontario court | Justice Centre for Constitutional Freedoms (news release):

May 20, 2025 - "The Justice Centre for Constitutional Freedoms is pleased to announce that Harold Jonker, a trucking company owner, has been acquitted on all charges related to his peaceful involvement in the 2022 Freedom Convoy protest in Ottawa. The decision was delivered today by Justice Kevin B. Phillips of the Ontario Superior Court of Justice. 

"Mr. Jonker, a trucker from West Lincoln in Ontario’s Niagara region, joined the Freedom Convoy as a 'road captain' for the Niagara contingent and arrived in Ottawa on January 28, 2022. He remained in the capital for three weeks. During that time, he parked his vehicle along Coventry Road — away from the downtown — and was not fined or charged with any offences while in the city. 

"Fifteen months after the protest ended, in May 2023, police charged Mr. Jonker with mischief, counselling mischief, intimidation, and counselling intimidation. The allegations included that he helped organize and lead part of the Convoy, and that multiple trucks affiliated with his business, Jonker Trucking Inc., were present in downtown Ottawa during the protest. 

"Mr. Jonker’s trial took place from May 12 to 14, 2025, before the Ontario Superior Court of Justice in Ottawa. The Crown presented four witnesses, including two police officers and two civilians. In delivering his oral judgment on May 20, 2025, Justice Phillips addressed two main themes advanced by the Crown. 

"First, the Crown argued that interviews given by Mr. Jonker during and after the protest amounted to counselling mischief. However, Justice Phillips found that Mr. Jonker was treated by interviewers like ... someone describing events as he witnessed them. While supportive of the protest, Mr. Jonker’s words were expressions of opinion, not incitement to unlawful action. 

"Second, the Crown alleged that Mr. Jonker was responsible for Jonker Trucking vehicles that were observed in the downtown core. But the Court found insufficient evidence to show that Mr. Jonker had control over those trucks. Justice Phillips noted that, in Crown-submitted videos, Mr. Jonker explicitly stated that his own truck was parked in a yard, not downtown. Furthermore, the Crown offered no evidence ... that could prove Mr. Jonker had authority over vehicles belonging to the company. 

"Justice Phillips concluded that while the broader Freedom Convoy could be seen as a collective act of mischief, the Crown had failed to prove that Mr. Jonker was guilty of any of the charges beyond a reasonable doubt. 

"Constitutional lawyer Chris Fleury welcomed the decision, stating, 'Harold and I are elated with the outcome of his case. We agree with the trial judge that the Crown had not proven its case beyond a reasonable doubt'.... Mr. Jonker expressed his gratitude, stating, 'We are very thankful for the excellent legal support provided by the Justice Centre for Constitutional Freedoms, and thankful that the judge saw through the Crown’s weak case and had the courage to do the right thing.'” 

For media inquiries, please contact media@jccf.ca. 

Read more: https://www.jccf.ca/freedom-convoy-victory-trucker-harold-jonker-cleared-of-all-charges-in-ontario-court/

Ford proposes critical minerals alliance with USA

Ontario Premier Doug Ford is proposing a critical minerals alliance with the United States, in response to Donald Trump's tariff threats, while federal NDP leader Jagmeet Singh wants to cut the U.S. off from critical minerals entirely.

Jagmeet Singh (left) and Doug Ford in 2017. Courtesy TVO. 

Ontario Premier Ford Proposes Critical Minerals Alliance to Deter US Tariff Threat | Epoch Times | Andrew Chen:

Jauuary 13 2025 - "Ontario Premier Doug Ford is proposing a Canada–U.S. critical minerals alliance to deter the incoming U.S. administration’s tariff threat by strengthening cross-border supply chains. Ford called for creating the critical minerals supply chain alliance with the United States during a Jan. 13 press conference in Toronto. The move is part of the broader 'Fortress Am-Can' partnership the premier has proposed in response to U.S. President-elect Donald Trump’s threat to impose a 25 percent tariff on all Canadian goods unless Ottawa does more to boost border security....

"Ford’s proposed critical minerals development strategy focuses on accelerating federal and provincial regulatory approval timelines for key projects and prioritizing those that reduce reliance on Chinese supply. The strategy also calls for designating strategic regions, such as Ontario’s Ring of Fire — a mineral-rich area about 500 kilometres northeast of Thunder Bay — as priority zones for expedited approvals.

"Last December, China imposed export bans on 'dual-use' critical minerals to the United States, such as antimony, gallium, germanium, and “superhard” materials. While the Chinese regime cited the need to 'safeguard national security and interests,' the move is widely seen as retaliation against the United States for restricting access to its advanced semiconductor technologies.... While China maintains global dominance in the supply of various critical minerals, Ford said Ontario’s mineral deposits could help fill the supply gap for the United States — a position echoed by Ontario Northern Development Minister Greg Rickford. 'Ontario is uniquely poised to meet the opportunity of Am-Can, particularly when it comes to mineral production,' Rickford said during the press conference....

"Ford had previously suggested cutting oil and gas supplies to the United States in response to Trump’s tariff warning—an option Ford said he remains open to.... In 2023, Ontario electricity powered 1.5 million homes in the United States and the province is a major exporter of electricity to several other states. Foreign Affairs Minister Mélanie Joly said recently that the federal government hasn’t ruled out cutting energy exports to the United States as part of its response to tariffs. 

"Alberta Premier Danielle Smith has been critical of the proposal, saying on Jan. 13, 'Oil and gas is owned by the provinces, principally Alberta, and we won’t stand for that.' Smith, who met with Trump over the weekend, said she wants to avoid the tariffs by emphasizing to the United States the importance of its partnership with Canada.... In response to Smith’s comment, Ford noted that both premiers speak only for their own provinces....

"On Jan. 13, federal NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh called for blocking critical mineral exports to the United States in response to Trump’s tariff threat. 'If Trump attacks Canadian workers and jobs with tariffs, let’s fight for them by cutting off the flow of critical minerals to the U.S.,' he wrote on social media."

Read more: https://www.theepochtimes.com/world/ontario-premier-ford-proposes-critical-minerals-alliance-to-deter-us-tariff-threat-5791097

Emo ON seeks judicial review of Pride fines

The township of Emo, Ontario, has applied for judicial review of the provincial Human Rights Tribunal's decision that fined the township and mayor $15,000 in total for voting not to proclaim Pride Month.

Emo township seeks judicial review of tribunal penalty over lack of Pride proclamation | True North | Clayton DeMaine, True North Wire:

December 20, 2024 - "After the Ontario Human Rights Tribunal ordered a small town and its mayor to pay $15,000 fines for “discriminating” against a Pride group for not declaring June as Pride Month, the two are applying for a judicial review of the case. 

The northern Ontario township of Emo announced that it has applied for a judicial review to the Ontario Superior Court of Justice to have the November decision quashed and sent back to the Human Rights Tribunal... The tribunal found that Emo, Ont., discriminated against Borderland Pride when it voted to refrain from accepting the verbiage of a draft proclamation written by the pride group.

"In the announcement, the town noted that despite being labelled as discriminatory against the LGBT community, it made a 'Declaration of Equality' in 2022, after the vote and before the tribunal decision, which recognized the 'dignity and worth' of LGBT people and the barriers they may face in society. The town announced that it would not provide further comment because the matter was before the divisional courts.

"The tribunal ordered the town to pay Borderland Pride $10,000. Its mayor, Harold McQuaker, was fined $5,000. McQuaker and the township’s chief administrative officer, hired after the vote, were also ordered to take a 'Human Rights 101' eLearning Module by Dec. 20. McQuaker publicly refused to pay the damages ordered against him at the beginning of the month, prompting Borderland Pride to take enforcement action against him and have the money garnished directly from his account.

"According to the notice of the judicial review application obtained by True North, the town and McQuaker want the tribunal to reexamine the case and have the orders against them stayed, claiming that the decision was 'unreasonable and incorrect.' The applicants demand that any orders placed on them be halted until the human rights tribunal reexamines the matter. They also want the $5,000 –plus interest and taxes – garnished from McQuaker’s account to be returned in the meantime. They claim that the money was unfairly taken from the mayor as it was garnished before the 30-day timeline to apply for judicial review had passed.

"The tribunal based its discrimination finding on a statement McQuaker made at a later, council meeting in which he pointed out that the township wasn’t flying a flag for anyone – and to fly the flag would be a political statement to which the alternative 'straight flag' isn’t being flown. Because the tribunal found McQuaker to have not acted in good faith when voting, he was disqualified from being shielded from paying damages as municipal workers in Ontario typically are for actions taken while performing their duties.

"The applicants argue that the court should not have used the mayor’s post-vote statements to determine if he had discriminated against the Pride group for voting not accepting its verbiage and proclamation. The applicants argue that the tribunal failed to explain why it declined to accept alternative explanations for McQuakers statements, including that he sought to be inclusive and that it didn’t support its claim that he acted in bad faith with 'any articulable' facts.... The applicants also argue that the orders against the CAO of the town, who was hired after the incident in question, demonstrate the unreasonableness of the decision. She allegedly was not informed that she would be subject to enforcement and wasn’t given a chance to defend herself.

"Among other problems the applicants have with the decision, they also took issue with the finding that Borderland Pride could even be paid compensation for injury to its 'dignity, feelings and self-respect,' as it is a corporation and not a human under the human rights code."

Read more: https://tnc.news/2024/12/20/emo-judicial-review-tribunal-pride-proclamation/

Mayor of Emo, ON Faces $5,000 fine and 're-education' over pride flag ruling | Rebel News | December 14, 2024:

2022 Convoy charges against Randy Hillier stayed

On November 14 an Ontario Superior Court judge ruled that all charges against Randy Hillier stemming from the 2022 Freedom Convoy be dropped, agreeing that Hillier's Charter right to be tried within a reasonable time frame had been violated.

Convoy protest charges against ex-MPP Randy Hillier stayed due to delays | Ottawa Citizen | Ken warren: 

November 18, 2024 - "All charges against former MPP Randy Hillier relating to the February 2022 convoy protest in Ottawa have been stayed.... Hillier, who represented Lanark-Frontenac-Kingston as an independent after being removed from the Conservative caucus in 2019, had been facing a nine-pack of charges stemming from the trucker blockade along Wellington Avenue in front of Parliament Hill. The charges included two counts of mischief, three counts of counselling to commit an indictable offence, three counts of obstructing a police officer and one count of assaulting a police officer.

"In a ruling dated Thursday, Superior Court Justice Kerry McVey agreed with Hillier’s argument that his Charter right to be tried within a reasonable time frame had been violated. A four-week trial had been scheduled to begin next Jan. 27 in Ottawa, with an anticipated ending of Feb. 25. That would amount to a total of 34 months 28 days since police charged Hillier. Factoring in 105 days for delays caused by the defence and for 'exceptional circumstances,' McVey ruled that Hillier had been waiting for 31 months 13 days for a trial. 

"A previous 30-month ceiling on delays had been established by the Supreme Court in the 2016 decision R v. Jordan. 'As a result, the application is granted,' McVey wrote. 'The charges against Mr. Hillier are dropped'....

"The case against Hillier included charges that he inspired his 56,000 online followers to flood non-emergency police lines during the convoy protest demonstration despite a police plea to the public to keep communication channels open. Police had received 274 malicious calls during a six-day period, according to the Crown case. Hillier had told his on-line supporters to keep calling because 'in a democracy, expressing yourself is a fundamental freedom.'

"The prosecution also said Hillier had disregarded a police officer’s directions and used his shoulder to push an officer away, allowing demonstrators to pass through a barricade.

"Despite emergency orders against it, the Crown also contended that Hillier told his supporters to continue stocking the protesters with gasoline and food."

Read more: https://ottawacitizen.com/news/local-news/convoy-protest-charges-ex-mpp-randy-hillier-stayed-delays

Randy Hillier Charges Dropped!! Exclusive interview | Greg Wycliffe | November 19, 2024:

Pride group garnishes ON mayor's bank account

Borderland Pride has garnished Emo, Ontario, mayor Harold McQuaker's bank account for the $5,000 the Ontario Human Rights Tribunal awarded the group after McQuaker voted against proclaiming Pride Month in Emo.

Mayor who stood up to Pride group has bank account garnished | Toronto Sun | Joe Warmington:

December 7, 2024 - "LGBTQ2+ activists have literally made Emo Township Mayor Harold McQuaker pay for daring to stand up to them. Although the Northern Ontario municipal leader vowed not to honour a $5,000 fine the Human Rights Tribunal of Ontario (HRTO) levied against him for comments surrounding town council not approving a motion to approve Pride month, he wasn’t given a choice. In fact, the winner of the judgement that McQuaker called 'extortion' has boasted it has already gone into his bank account to collect the money....  

“'Mayor McQuaker’s comments in the Toronto Sun and other media were very clear that he did not respect nor intend to comply with the Tribunal’s orders,' Borderland Pride said in an email. 

"'Consequently, it was apparent he would not voluntarily make payment of the damages ordered. We took immediate action to garnish his bank account.' 

"What McQuaker told the Sun was, 'I utterly refuse to pay the $5,000 because that’s extortion' and also said he would not partake in an Ontario Human Rights Commission re-education course....

"Borderland Pride said, 'The garnishment was issued by the court and delivered to the CIBC in Emo, which is the only bank in that community' and 'there is no hearing or application to issue a notice of garnishment – it is a service provided at the court counter or online once a person has an order for the payment of money.' Borderland Pride also wrote, 'Orders of the Tribunal can be enforced in the same manner as any civil judgment for the payment of money. We intend to ensure the Tribunal’s orders are complied with'....

"Cancel culture is cancelling this mayor and digging into his personal savings too. On a weak premise that there is discrimination of LGBT people there, the enforcement is harsher than most violent criminals receive. It seems like a heavy-handed, undemocratic move, not to mention a violation of personal finances, and cruel and unusual punishment.... 

"The state using legal instruments to take from one person and give to others amounts to communism and authoritarianism that should scare every citizen. First, we saw government and banks freezing accounts of pandemic lockdown protesters, seizing donations to crowdfunding sites, and now in woke Canada comes word they can raid bank accounts, too....

"There is no decision so far on the status of the $10,000 fine HRTO slapped on the Township of Emo for the 2020 decision by town council to vote three to two against granting a request for there to be a Pride month in the village of just 1,400 people.... Borderland Pride said they have so far not garnished the township as they await that decision."

Read more: https://torontosun.com/news/local-news/warmington-mayor-who-stood-up-to-pride-group-has-bank-account-garnished

ON township fined for not proclaiming Pride Month

The Ontario Human Rights Commission (OHRC) has fined Emo township $10,000 and its mayor $5,000, and ordered the mayor to undergo OHRC training, for voting against a motion to proclaim Pride Month. 

Emo, Ontario, municipal office in 2012. Photo by P199. CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons.

Ontario town fined $10,000 for refusing to celebrate pride month | National Post | Tristan Hopper: 

November 27, 2024 - ""Emo is a township of about 1,300 people located in the far west of Ontario, along the border with Minnesota. In a decision handed down last week, the Human Rights Tribunal of Ontario ruled that Emo, its mayor and two of its councillors had violated the Ontario Human Rights Code by refusing to proclaim June as 'Pride Month.' The town was also cited for failing to fly 'an LGBTQ2 rainbow flag,' despite the fact that they don’t have an official flag pole.

"The dispute began in 2020 when the township was approached by the group Borderland Pride with a written request to proclaim June as Pride Month. Attached to the letter was a draft proclamation.... Emo was also asked to fly an 'LGBTQ2 rainbow flag for a week of your choosing.' Borderland Pride then asked Emo to 'email us a copy of your proclamation or resolution once adopted and signed'.... Borderland Pride’s draft proclamation was tabled before a May 2020 meeting of the Emo Township Council, where it was defeated by a vote of three to two. 

"The claim of discrimination ultimately hinged on a single line uttered by Emo Mayor Harold McQuaker. When the proclamation came up for consideration, McQuaker was heard to say in a recording of the meeting, 'There’s no flag being flown for the other side of the coin … there’s no flags being flown for the straight people.' As Human Rights Tribunal vice-chair Karen Dawson wrote in her decision, 'I find this remark was demeaning and disparaging of the LGBTQ2 community of which Borderland Pride is a member and therefore constituted discrimination under the Code.' Dawson also ruled that given the 'close proximity” of McQuaker’s comment to his nay vote — that too 'constituted discrimination under the Code'....

"The Human Rights Tribunal ultimately ordered the Township to pay $10,000 to Borderland Pride, and for McQuaker to personally pay them another $5,000.... McQuaker and Emo’s chief administrative officer were also ordered to complete an online course known as 'Human Rights 101' and “provide proof of completion … to Borderland Pride within 30 days.' The course is offered by the Ontario Human Rights Commission.... 

"In a statement celebrating the decision, Borderland Pride noted that Emo joins both London and Hamilton in the category of Ontario communities that have been 'sanctioned for refusing to adopt proclamations in support of their local Pride organizations.' In 1995, Hamilton Mayor Bob Morrow was fined $5,000 for refusing to proclaim Gay Pride Week. That same year, London, Ont., was similarly fined $10,000 for refusing to officially recognize Pride weekend....  

"{A]n April 2024 letter that Borderland Pride sent to Emo on the eve of its Human Rights Tribunal hearing, threaten[ed] an 'impending national public relations tire fire for your council and community' if it went ahead. The township was told they could avoid the hearing only if they apologized, imposed mandatory 'diversity and inclusion' training for council, agreed to undisclosed financial terms, pledged to green-light future Pride proclamations without edits and provide free facilities for a 'charitable drag event … the proceeds of which will support the Emo Public Library.'

"Borderland Pride also said it would return one third of their financial reward to the Emo Public Library, but only if the library hosted a 'drag story time event' on a 'date of our choosing.'

"This is the second time in four months that Borderland Pride has won a five-figure award via legal action. In August, the group won a $35,000 small claims court judgement against a Fort Frances man who wrote a Facebook post saying a Borderland-organized all-ages drag show was a 'pedophile show'.... [A]t the time, Borderland Pride director Douglas Judson outlined his intention to continue imposing 'consequences' on anyone else who attacked them.... ''As a lawyer who does this work that means I’m going to start taking people’s houses and their vehicles and their toys and draining their bank accounts and garnishing their wages because no one is going to stop behaving this way until there are real consequences,” he said."

Read more: https://nationalpost.com/opinion/ontario-town-fined-10000-for-refusing-to-celebrate-pride-month

Canadian town fined $10k for refusing to celebrate Pride Month | Sky News Australia | December 3, 2024:

Canadian got MAID for post-Covid-vax syndrome

A committee reviewing Canada's Medical Assistance in Dying (MAID) program has reported on an Ontario man who was euthanized for "post-vaccination syndrome."

Ontario man granted euthanasia for controversial 'post COVID-19 vaccination syndrome' | Fort McMurray Today | Sharon Kirkey:

October 24, 2024 - "An Ontario man in his late 40s with a history of mental illness died by euthanasia after his assisted death assessors decided that the most reasonable explanation for his physical decline was a post COVID-19 'vaccination syndrome'....  The term is controversial — Canada’s current vaccine reporting system for adverse events doesn’t include 'post-vaccine syndrome' — and multiple specialists consulted before his death couldn’t agree on a diagnosis, raising questions as to whether the man’s condition met the criteria for an 'irremediable,' meaning a hopeless, incurable condition.

"The anonymized case is one of several highlighted in a series of reports issued by a 16-member MAID death review committee struck by Ontario’s chief coroner’s office in January. Identified as 'Mr. A,' the man experienced 'suffering and functional decline” following three vaccinations for SARS-CoV-2. He also suffered from depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, anxiety and personality disorders, and, “while navigating his physical symptoms,” was twice admitted to hospital, once involuntarily, with thoughts of suicide.

"'Amongst his multiple specialists, no unifying diagnosis was confirmed,' according to the report. However, his MAID assessors 'opined that the most reasonable diagnosis for Mr. A’s clinical presentation (severe functional decline) was a post-vaccine syndrome, in keeping with chronic fatigue syndrome.' There were no 'pathological findings' at a post-mortem that could identify any underlying physiological diagnosis, though people’s experiences can’t be discounted just because medicine can’t find what’s wrong with them....

"Details in the reports are limited. A spokesperson from the coroner’s office said members of the MAID death review committee cannot discuss particulars about cases mentioned due to confidentiality and respect for the families involved. According to their report, 'only a small number of MAID deaths in Ontario have identified concerns,' and the deaths selected 'are chosen for the ability to generate discussion, thought and considerations for practice improvement'....

"Rare conditions can occur after vaccination that can have 'life-altering consequences,' said McMaster University immunologist Dawn Bowdish. Serious vaccine side effects generally appear within two weeks after the first, and more rarely, second dose of a vaccine, she said....

"A chronic post-vaccine syndrome remains controversial. A rapid review paper prepared by WorkSafeBC, a worker’s compensation company, found no published data supporting the development of chronic fatigue syndrome post mRNA COVID vaccination. 

"However, in a preprint study published last year that had not yet gone through peer-review, 241 adults who responded to an online survey reported ongoing symptoms after a COVID vaccination, such as excessive fatigue, brain fog and pain, numbness and tingling in different parts of the body. Most received mRNA vaccines. Led by doctors at the Yale School of Medicine, the researchers cautioned that vaccines against COVID 'have saved many lives,' and that the symptoms could be unrelated to the shots, occurring by chance. However, the clustering of symptoms within the first one to 18 days from vaccination 'suggests a potential relationship,' they reported.

"The study had limitations, including that people self-reported symptoms. Bowdish said she does not want to discount people’s experiences, but that with self-reported data 'it’s impossible to validate that they were vaccinated,' and infection with COVID can cause similar lingering symptoms, she said."

Read more: https://www.fortmcmurraytoday.com/health/ontario-man-euthanasia-post-covid-19-vaccination-syndrome

Post-vac syndrome: 'There is no such thing as a vaccine without side effects' | DW News | June 12, 2023:

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:

Ontario gov't allows mixed drinks' sale in groceries

The Ontario government is fast-tracking its plan to allow grocery stores to sell premixed alcoholic drinks, after government workers opposed to the plan shut down provincial liquor stores by walking out on strike.  

Ontario further speeds up alcohol expansion amid LCBO strike | Windsor Star | Allison Jones, Canadian Press:

July 16, 2024 - ""Ontario Premier Doug Ford’s government is rushing to get ready-to-drink cocktails on grocery store shelves amid a strike at the province’s main liquor retailer.... Finance Minister Peter Bethlenfalvy announced Monday that grocery stores that are already licensed to sell beer and wine can start ordering the pre-mixed cocktails, as well as large packs of beer, to sell starting on Thursday [July 18] — sooner than the planned Aug. 1 launch.... 

"The sped-up move is part of an already fast-tracked plan to expand alcohol sales in the province. Ford’s previous plan was to get beer, wine and ready-to-drink cocktails in convenience stores and all grocery stores by 2026 [see video], but in May he announced that would instead happen this year.

"Leadership at the Ontario Public Service Employees Union, whose approximately 10,000 workers at the Liquor Control Board of Ontario [LCBO] walked off the job July 5, has said ... the main issue in the labour dispute ... is the expanded sale of ready-to-drink cocktails. Previous rounds of alcohol market expansion in Ontario have kept spirits sales in the hands of the LCBO, and OPSEU worries undoing that will threaten the LCBO and union jobs. Getting ready-to-drink beverages in grocery stores even sooner is an attempt to undercut the LCBO and amounts to interfering in bargaining, said OPSEU president JP Hornick....

"Ford has denied he is trying to dismantle or privatize the LCBO, and government officials have noted that LCBO revenues have increased through previous rounds of alcohol sales expansions. Bethlenfalvy has directed the Crown corporation to showcase and promote Ontario beer, wine, spirits and ciders as part of the expansion, and he has said it will still have an important role as a wholesaler.

"Ford last week firmly ruled out a reversal on the ready-to-drink expansion, saying the ship had sailed 'halfway across Lake Ontario.' The 450 grocery stores across the province that are already licensed to sell beer, wine and ciders can begin placing orders for the coolers and seltzers on Thursday and can sell the beverages as soon as they receive them. 

"They will also be able to sell larger packages of beer, such as cases of 24. An agreement the former Liberal government signed with The Beer Store in 2015 ... [which] gave the company exclusive rights to sell 12- and 24-packs of beer .... had been set to expire at the end of 2025, but Ford’s sped-up plan involves an 'early implementation agreement' with The Beer Store that involves the province paying the company up to $225 million to help it keep stores open and workers employed. The province is also giving brewers a rebate on an LCBO fee that normally brings in $45 million a year, and it is giving retailers a 10-per-cent wholesale discount."

Read more: https://windsorstar.com/news/local-news/ontario-further-speeds-up-alcohol-expansion-amid-lcbo-strike

Premier Ford announces plans to allow beer and wine sales in Ontario convenience stores by 2026 | cpac | December 12, 2023:

Ont. liquor store workers strike to stop privatization

Ontario liquor store workers have gone on strike to convince Ontarians to oppose the Ford government's limited privatization of alcohol sales. But shutting down their monopoly and threatening us with a "dry summer" may have the opposite effect.  

LCBO Workers Strike Against Privatization | X:

July 6, 2024 - "In Ontario, LCBO {Liquor Control Board of Ontario] workers are on strike for the first time in the corporation's 97-year history, protesting against the government's plan to open up the alcohol market to private interests. The strike is seen as a fight to protect public services and jobs, with the LCBO generating $2.5 billion in profits annually, which are used to fund healthcare, education, and public services. Critics argue that the government's plan to privatize alcohol sales will lead to a loss of revenue for the province and negatively impact public services."

Read more: https://x.com/i/trending/1809465789466001415

LCBO strike closes Ontario liquor stores across province | CBC News: The National | July 5, 2024:

LCBO strike puts privatization on agenda | Toronto Sun | Brian Lilley:

July 5, 2024 - “'Tonight, Ford’s dry summer begins,' Colleen MacLeod, chair of the union’s bargaining team, said on Thursday ahead of the strike. MacLeod said that if Ontario residents can’t get the alcohol they want this summer, it will be because of Premier Doug Ford. Actually, because of several moves Ford made over the last several years, residents of the province will still mostly be able to get the drinks they want despite the strike.

"Since the depths of the pandemic, any restaurant or bar that sells alcohol has been able to sell alcohol to go. That means every restaurant or bar in the province can act as a de facto liquor store. While in most instances these outlets charge more, there will likely be some enterprising operators who take advantage of the strike to sell booze at a reasonable price.... There are also craft distillers, craft brewers and wineries across the province that can sell their products from their own production facilities. The province will even be promoting locations where residents will be able to find alcohol to purchase from The Beer Store to local Wine Rack locations, local producers to pop-up bottle shops.... Oh, and starting in less than a month, the expansion of sales in grocery and convenience stores will begin.

"Does the union realize that they aren’t fighting a losing battle but a battle the province has already won? Do they not realize that their actions are proving why having a unionized government monopoly of alcohol sales is a bad idea?

"The union relied heavily on the idea that alcohol sales at the LCBO fund health care and education and without the sales coming through LCBO stores, the funding for those services would be lost.... LCBO turns over $2.5 billion to the province each year and that money does help fund services. Yet, if we look at other provinces, we can see that the government can still earn money from alcohol sales without controlling all aspects of the sale, warehousing and wholesaling of the product. 

"Quebec has a hybrid model of alcohol sales with beer and wine widely available in private stores while also operating the SAQ, the government-run liquor store chain. Alberta has a fully private model for retail and has for more than 30 years. Both Quebec and Alberta earn significantly more per capita from alcohol via taxes and fees than Ontario does via the LCBO. And often, the prices in those provinces are lower than they are in Ontario.

"If having a government monopoly on booze doesn’t bring consumers lower prices and it doesn’t bring the government more revenue, then what is the point of having one?"

Read more: https://torontosun.com/opinion/columnists/lcbo-strike-puts-privatization-on-the-agenda

Canadian far-left activist arrested and denied bail

Deana Sherif, a serial protester for far-left causes in Canada with a history of violent and harassing behavior, has finally been arrested and charged (and denied bail) after she allegedly assaulted a police officer making an arrest. 

Canadian anti-Israel activist charged for assault during Ottawa protest | Jerusalem Post | Michael Starr: 

April 29, 2024 - "An Ottawa anti-Israel activist was arrested and charged with assault and hate-motivated harassment during an April 15 protest in the Canadian capital, local law enforcement announced on Saturday. Deana Sherif, 47, is alleged to have assaulted a person with a 'handheld sound amplifier' after the victim had walked near an anti-Israel demonstration and argued with her. Sherif used the device at a different location later in the day against another victim. Sherif allegedly verbally abused both victims, shouting 'hateful messages' at her target at the later event.

"In addition to charges for intimidation by disorderly following, possession of a weapon dangerous to the public, and two charges for assault with a weapon and hate-motivated harassment by threatening conduct, Sherif allegedly assaulted a police officer to prevent them from arrest. 'While police were attempting to effect a lawful arrest, the individual inserted herself into the situation, and in doing so, physically assaulted one of the officers,' said The Ottawa Police Service Hate and Bias Crime Unit and Central Criminal Investigation Section.

"Journalist Chris Dacey, who shared on X on Saturday that he has documented Sherif acting violently at such protests, said, 'It's well past time she faces consequences for her actions.'"

Read more: https://www.jpost.com/diaspora/antisemitism/article-799045#google_vignette

Deana Sherif. Courtesy Caryma Sa'd / X / Western Standard.

Canadian social justice activist denied bail for assault, obstruction charges | Western Standard | Jonathan Bradley: 

April 29, 2024 - "Canadian social justice activist Deana Sherif will be facing accountability for aggressive actions after years of bothering conservatives. Sherif had been denied bail at a Sunday court appearance after being charged with offences such as assaulting a police officer, obstructing a peace officer, and assault with a weapon. The judge had imposed a publication ban to cover the reasons for the decision....

"Sherif had been brought before a virtual court for bail proceedings. About 120 people attended the court hearing. No one was allowed to record it.... 

"Sherif acts as a perpetual protestor, who attends demonstrations for various causes across Ontario. She has a history of violent and harassing behaviour, with limited police intervention to protect people. It is alleged she assaulted a police officer with the intent to prevent an arrest at an Ottawa protest on April 15 among other serious charges.... 

"While the ruling had been pushed off, the court appearance ended because of the abrupt display of pornography from an unknown participant." 

Read more: https://www.westernstandard.news/canadian/canadian-social-justice-activist-denied-bail-for-assault-obstruction-charges/54158

Toronto protest organizers want police defunded

Protest organizers have accused Toronto police of trying "to criminalize and intimidate pro-Palestinian protesters off the streets," calling for an independent civilian investigation and for the police to be defunded. 

Organizers of pro-Palestinian rally in Toronto accuse officers of police brutality, call for independent investigation | CP24 | Codi Wilson:

April 1, 2024 - "Organizers of a pro-Palestinian rally in Toronto are calling for an 'independent civilian investigation' into what they allege was police brutality at a demonstration this past weekend. The demonstration, which occurred downtown on Saturday evening, led to three protesters being charged.... [P]olice alleged that ... protesters 'became aggressive and assaultive' toward officers.... But at a news conference on Monday morning, the organizers of the rally accused the officers of using excessive force in their interactions with protesters.

"'In the last two weeks we have seen dramatic escalations and violence at the hands of the Toronto Police Service. These escalations are in an attempt to criminalize and intimidate pro-Palestinian protesters off the streets,' Dalia Awwad, a member of the Palestinian Youth Movement – Toronto, told reporters. 'We are here today reaffirming our calls to defund the police because the police do not keep us safe… We are also calling for an independent civilian investigation of what took place and what’s more, we are affirming that these are the people’s streets and we will continue to come out and we will continue to mobilize.' The Palestinian Youth Movement – Toronto also shared videos of the demonstration on social media, where officers can be seen pushing protesters.

"In a statement released over the weekend, the Toronto Police Service said ... that their presence this weekend is consistent with what they have done with past demonstrations, adding the Mounted Unit was on standby for crowd control. 'The fundamental difference lies in demonstrators’ refusal to adhere to police directives despite clear forewarning,' Const. Stephanie Sayer wrote. A spokesperson for Toronto police told CP24 on Sunday that they did not receive any reports of injuries at the demonstration but added that formal complaints can be made through the Office of the Independent Police Review Director (OIPRD)."

Read more: https://www.cp24.com/news/organizers-of-pro-palestinian-rally-in-toronto-accuse-officers-of-police-brutality-call-for-independent-investigation-1.6829106

LILLEY UNLEASHED: Pro-Hamas protests have no place on Canadian city streets | Toronto Sun | April 8, 2024:

Do councillors support pro-Hamas groups that rejoice in Oct. 7 terror attacks? | Toronto Sun | Brian Lilley

April 10, 2024 - "Mayor Olivia Chow says she won’t condemn six councillors who criticized the Toronto Police Service’s handling of a recent pro-Hamas rally. Neither will the six councillors who signed the letter answer questions put to them by The Toronto Sun, detailing the links between the groups organizing the protests and support for terrorism.... On Monday, I wrote to Deputy Mayor Ausma Malik, and Councillors Gord Perks, Aljandro Bravo, Paula Fletcher, Amber Morley and Lily Cheng, and presented them with information about Samidoun and the Palestinian Youth Movement, two of the main organizers of the rallies ... presenting the six councillors with details of the ties between these groups and banned terrorist groups in Canada.... 

"Samidoun is a group which shows up at protests across Toronto with a large banner reading 'Long Live the Resistance.' The banner features an image of an AK-47 rifle firing bullets, with the butt of the rifle painted as the Palestinian flag.... The group’s Canadian-based international coordinator, Charlotte Kates, states explicitly that she supports Palestinian armed resistance in all forms and encourages everyone else to do the same. Samidoun has direct ties, visible on their website, to the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine, a group listed as a terrorist entity by the Government of Canada since 2003....

"The Palestinian Youth Movement has spent years promoting members of Hamas, the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine and other terrorist groups as heroes. Immediately after the Oct. 7 terror attack by Hamas, the PYM began organizing rallies in support of 'the resistance,' including here in Toronto. Shatha Mahmoud, an organizer with PYM Toronto, gave an interview saying resistance is justified days after the brutal attack Hamas launched on Israel.

"After presenting the information to the councillors, I asked them if they supported Samidoun or the Palestinian Youth Movement, or if allowing groups that endorse banned terrorist groups to march through our streets is a good idea. I asked the councillors if they would denounce the groups for their support of terrorist organizations.... No response.... 

"We should be into condemning and distancing ourselves from groups that support, embrace and rejoice in terrorist attacks like Samidoun and the Palestinian Youth Movement have done. These are not groups that councillors or any elected official should be supporting in any way or be seen next to. Nor should these groups be given free rein on our streets."

Read more: https://torontosun.com/opinion/lilley-do-councillors-support-pro-hamas-groups-which-rejoice-in-oct-7-terror-attacks 

Toronto cops say agitators inciting protest violence

Pro-Palestinian protesters breaking the law, assaulting officers 'will be arrested': Toronto police | National Post:

April  5, 2024 - " Toronto Police have warned pro-Palestinian protesters to behave, saying agitators are escalating tensions on Toronto streets in the wake of multiple arrests at a downtown demonstration last Saturday. 

"Police have said that, during Saturday’s protest, they seized a truck to lay a charge of stunt driving, and that protesters then 'became aggressive and assaultive' toward officers. They said one woman threw horse manure at officers while another 'intentionally used a flagpole to "spear" at an officer.' Organizers of the rally later accused the officers of using excessive force.

"Lauren Pogue, deputy chief of Community Safety Command, told a news conference at police headquarters on Friday that two people were arrested Saturday for assaulting police officers with weapons, and a third arrest was made this week for spitting on an officer, while a fourth person was being sought for striking a police horse.

"Pogue said police have not changed the way they are responding to protests, but that they will not hesitate to respond to violence directed against their officers. 

"'If they’re going to break the law, if they’re going to assault our police officers or assault our police horses, there will be consequences and people will be arrested,' she said. 

"She also said police were aware of a number of 'agitators' who were present at multiple demonstrations in Toronto and who were stirring up violence."

Read more: https://nationalpost.com/news/canada/toronto-police-violent-pro-palestinian-protesters-will-be-arrested

Toronto police warn of more arrests as pro-Palestinian protests become more violent } Global News | April 5, 2024:

Second Ontario doctor asks Elon Musk for help

Ontario ER physician Mark Trozzi has asked Elon Musk for financial help to appeal a license suspension imposed by the Ontario College of Physicians and Surgeons for opposing Covid-19 mandates and handing out medical exemptions.

Second Ontario doctor hits up Musk for support battling regulatory bodies post-pandemic | Western Standard | Jen Hodgson:

March 28, 2024 - "Dr. Mark Trozzi has called on Twitter ('X') billionaire Elon Musk for support in his case against the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario (CPSO). Trozzi, of Bancroft, is the second Ontario-based medical doctor to be usurped by the regulatory body and call on Musk for assistance in court.

"Dr. Kulvinder Kaur Gill of Brampton reached out to Musk to help settle her $300,000 court bill before the March 25 deadline after his promise to help those censored by their employers on the platform.... Gill’s was a failed libel case; the court ordered her to pay $1.1 million in legal fees [when] she took detractors to court for a smear campaign against the pediatrician after she spoke against COVID-19 mandates. 'We will help,' Musk replied to her tweet. 

"Trozzi ... has filed an appeal with the divisional court of Ontario after the CPSO suspended his license for six months for opposing COVID-19 public health measures [sic].  Trozzi, along with fellow Ontario physicians Patrick Phillips and Crystal Luchkiw, earlier said orders were unconstitutional and the CPSO was targeting 'anti-vaxxers' and 'anti-maskers.'

"However, the three doctors’ claims were rejected by a CPSO tribunal in January. The college accused Trozzi of 'professional misconduct by making misleading, incorrect or inflammatory statements about vaccinations, treatments and public health measures concerning COVID-19 through his email and online communications about the pandemic,' according to the National Post. 

"After the ruling, Trozzi published an in-depth open letter on the 'Plan-demic,' arguing COVID-19 wasn’t the real threat.... 'I have resigned all my hospital positions thus forfeiting my entire income. I have sold my house and greatly downscaled my family’s standard of living, while surviving on limited savings and committed myself to do my part to help counter the criminal covid enterprise,' the letter said.... 

'[C]herished rights have been denied to Canadians by governments and regulators during the so-called Covid-19 pandemic. Our mission is to restore them by making principled arguments before regulatory tribunals and the courts based on the common law, administrative law, the Charter of Rights and Freedoms and the first principles of liberal democratic government,' Trozzi’s website states, highlighting his crowdfunding site Justice for Medicine. 

"Musk has yet to respond to Trozzi's plea for help."

Read more: https://www.westernstandard.news/news/second-ontario-doctor-hits-up-musk-for-support-battling-regulatory-bodies-post-pandemic/53448

Fighting for Justice in Healthcare | Dr. Trozzi | EP 65 | Tammy Peterson | February 14th, 2024:

Elon Musk helps anti-lockdown Ontario MD

Elon Musk offers help to Canadian doctor targeted for opposing lockdowns | True North | Isaac Lamoureux:

March 23, 2024 - "Billionaire and Tesla owner Elon Musk has pledged to support a Canadian physician entangled in legal and professional challenges due to her criticism of COVID-19 lockdown measures. Musk’s response came after Dr. Kulvinder Kaur Gill asked him for help on X, the social media platform he now owns.

X News, March 24, 2024. Read more.

“'As one of the first Canadian MDs to oppose lockdowns on Twitter in 2020… I’ve been persecuted for four years solely due to my Tweets. Please help a fellow Canadian! ~$300k in court-ordered costs due in four days,' said Gill. She included a screenshot of a post from Musk last August vowing to support those facing hardship from employers over things they do on X.... 

"In response to Gill’s request, Musk wrote in a reply, 'We will help.' 

"Gill spoke about her ordeal in a podcast interview with Dr. Jay Bhattacharya, the creator of the Great Barrington Declaration that criticized lockdowns early in the COVID pandemic. 'I was starting to read about the devastating, catastrophic harms of the actual lockdowns. All of this compelled me to speak out in the summer of 2020 about everything that was being ignored, both in the media’s coverage and in the daily conversations that Canadians were having. I didn’t anticipate the response that I received,' said Gill.

"Just weeks before the World Health Organization officially declared the pandemic, Gill said she was considered a leader in her profession — one who received positive media coverage. 'Suddenly, when I went against the narrative, I was seen as a black sheep and as someone who should be shunned,” said Gill. “Rather than engaging in any sort of debate or having any conversation about what I was trying to convey, I was being attacked with labels. The media didn’t seem interested in actually hearing why I was concerned.' Despite even to this day not receiving a single patient complaint to her professional regulator, Gill became the target of a 'very malicious campaign'.... 

"In an effort to clear her name, Gill launched a defamation lawsuit against the individuals she accused of campaigning against her. Before any evidence was heard, an anti-SLAPP motion was brought forward. Anti-SLAPP legislation intends to prevent powerful entities from silencing 'the small guy.' However, Gill said it was used in the opposite fashion against her, where well-funded defendants with big teams of lawyers succeeded in having her lawsuit dismissed. In October 2022, an Ontario judge ruled a $1.2 million cost order against Gill. She appealed both the cost and actual decisions.

"Finally, Gill was ordered to pay $300,000 ... with a deadline at the end of March. This is money she said she doesn’t have following her legal battles.... She added that she could have never imagined that the cost of speaking truth to power or being compelled to speak her conscience would lead to this.

“'Everything I warned about in 2020, which at the time was based on peer-reviewed evidence, has now come to pass,' said Gill. 'It’s been absolutely heart-wrenching and devastating watching the carnage unfold. And being helpless. Because it was all completely preventable'....

"As of Friday afternoon, Gill’s fundraiser was at $170,000 of its $300,000 goal."

Read more: https://tnc.news/2024/03/23/elon-musk-doctor-targeted-lockdowns/

Robust property rights could help build housing

Sign in the window of a boutique in the North End neighbourhood of Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada.

Photo by A Disappearing Act, February 27, 2024, courtesy Wikimedia Commons.

Strengthening Property Rights Part of the Answer to Canada’s Housing Crunch | Epoch Times | Joseph Quesnel, Frontier Centre for Public Policy:

August 1, 2023 - "Housing is a big issue for Canadians.... A poll from Ipsos in the spring [of 2023] showed that about 63 out of every 100 Canadians who don’t own a house have given up on ever getting one. Almost seven out of 10 said that only rich people can afford to own homes.... Canadians may not understand how property rights — or, in many cases, the lack thereof — play a part in the housing shortage, and how robust property rights can help alleviate the problem.

"The recently released Canadian Property Rights Index from the Frontier Centre for Public Policy identified how local laws that control how people can use their land are a major cause for concern across Canada. These laws, known as 'regulatory takings,' can be very limiting. Regulatory or 'constructive' takings refer to local land use or zoning laws that limit how individuals may use their land. Many jurisdictions, provinces, and municipalities in Canada have such laws, with the most restrictive coming from the provinces. As a result, this land can’t be used for building houses.

"Excluding land from development and urban growth puts upward pressure on housing prices. There is a clear connection between urban containment policies and housing affordability. 'Urban containment' is a name for policies that limit the spread of cities and clearly separate city and country land. Wendell Cox, author of the Demographia International Housing Affordability Survey, has documented how these policies affect housing affordability in all cities around the world.... Policies that limit or ban the development of unused land push up the cost of land and housing. This is certainly not confined to Canada.... 

"British Columbia and Ontario offer two case studies.

• Since the 1970s, B.C. has maintained an Agricultural Land Reserve (ALR) as a land use exclusion zone. Designed to protect valuable agricultural land and protect the public from food insecurity, the exclusion zone has created problems for municipalities seeking to grow to accommodate growing populations.... Even though the ALR only covers about five percent of B.C.’s total land, its rules have blocked the housing and development needs of communities.
• In the case of Ontario’s Greenbelt, cynical critics are more often focused on who wants to develop the land than the fact that municipalities are being squeezed and feel that certain lands need to be excluded from the Greenbelt if they are to meet the housing and development needs of their communities.

"Experience with urban containment policies in the United States might serve as an inspiration. Facing housing affordability issues, many states have seen pushback against such policies. States such as Colorado, with more robust democratic systems that allow for referenda and citizen initiatives, rejected overly restrictive urban containment policies and favoured the property rights of land users. Canadians across all provinces and territories should also push back, stop demonizing land developers, and begin to recognize their property rights so we can solve our housing problems."

Read more: https://www.theepochtimes.com/opinion/strengthening-property-rights-part-of-the-answer-to-canadas-housing-crunch-5434635?ea_src=ca-frontpage&ea_med=top-news-opinion-undefined-title-1

Canadian Property Rights Index 2023: https://fcpp.org/2023/07/17/canadian-property-rights-index-2023/

Ontario Crown drops more Covid-related charges

Ontario pastors and former MP have 2021 lockdown tickets stayed | Western Standard | Lee Harding:

March 8, 2024 - "Some prominent Ontario activists who attended outdoor anti-lockdown rallies in 2021 have had their tickets stayed with help from the Justice Centre for Constitutional Freedoms.

"On May 8, 2021, former Member of Parliament Derek Sloan attended an outdoor anti-lockdown rally, organized by No More Lockdowns Canada. That rally attracted close to 1,000 participants.... On May 30, Pastor Henry Hildebrandt of the Church of God in Aylmer, Ontario participated in a similar outdoor rally in Woodstock, ON, attended by an estimated 350 people. 

"Both rallies were peaceful. There were no criminal charges, only tickets for violating the Reopening Ontario Act, which placed a total ban on indoor and outdoor gatherings during the spring of 2021, although there was no evidence to show that outdoor gatherings were significant contributors to the spread of COVID-19. 

"Sloan had faced charges for participating in peaceful protests across Ontario, in Stratford, St. Thomas, Chatham and Woodstock. All charges have been either stayed or withdrawn at the request of the respective prosecutors.... Hildebrandt spoke at many peaceful outdoor rallies during the lockdowns and was charged more than six times in the first half of 2021 with violating the Reopening Ontario Act.  

"Pastor Nathaniel Wright of the nearby Crossroads Alliance Church was charged with holding a church service on May 2, 2021. All charges against him were stayed in the same jurisdiction, Woodstock, on February 15, 2024. Wright was also involved in the resolution of the Trinity Bible Chapel case, where all charges against him were stayed for protests in Kitchener-Waterloo. The Justice Centre provided lawyers to defend these pastors who received tickets for exercising their Charter freedoms. All cases involving Sloan and Hildebrandt are now resolved.... 

"Hildebrandt previously pled guilty to defying the Reopening Ontario Act by holding an outdoor church service on June 6, 2021.... As a result of Hildebrandt's guilty plea in August 2023, related charges against him, his family, the Church of God, other church members and former politicians Sloan and Randy Hillier were dropped. Hildebrandt had to pay a $52,000 fine and a $13,000 victim surcharge."

Read more: https://www.westernstandard.news/news/ontario-pastors-and-former-mp-have-2021-lockdown-tickets-stayed/52971

Last charges finally dropped on 2022 protests at Ambassador Bridge | Western Standard | Lee Harding: 

March 8, 32025 - "An Ontario Crown attorney has withdrawn all criminal charges against William Laframboise, an alleged leader of the Windsor protests that blocked the Ambassador Bridge in February 2022. While the Crown attorney stated that there were triable issues, he also explained to the court that it was not in the public interest to prosecute Laframboise given the evidentiary challenges of the Crown’s case and other serious matters that were vying for trial time in a backlogged court system.

"The Democracy Fund (TDF) litigation director, Alan Honner, stood beside his client, LaFramboise, as the charges were withdrawn before Justice Campbell. 'Mr. Laframboise has always maintained his innocence,' says Honner. 'He insisted on his right to trial and we believe he would have been acquitted had the charges not been dropped.'

"A six-day blockade at the Ambassador Bridge that links Windsor, ON to Detroit, MI took place in February of 2022.... 

"Laframboise was arrested approximately six months after the fact. His arrest was the result of an ongoing police investigation which sought to identify an organizer of the protests.... Nycole Dicredico and William Laframboise were charged with mischief in connection with leading the blockades. However, Dicredico's charges were dropped in November shortly before trial at the Ontario Court of Justice."

Read more: https://www.westernstandard.news/ontario/last-charges-finally-dropped-on-2022-protests-at-ambassador-bridge/52996