Ontario anti-lockdown activist Randy Hillier’s court date has been deferred due to a system-wide backlog created by a flood of COVID-19 restriction offences..Hillier was charged on November 26 after holding an anti-lockdown rally at Queen’s Park in Toronto, in contravention of the Reopening Ontario Act..Hillier has repeatedly stated his purpose is to challenge the constitutionality of the Act, which appears to trample the assembly rights guaranteed Canadians under Section 2 of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms (Charter)..“Back in November I received a ticket for hosting a peaceful assembly outside the Ontario Legislature. I was disappointed in the enforcement of such unconstitutional orders, but pleased I would finally have my day in court to challenge the law. (Thursday) I would be able to argue my case to end these overreaching and harmful #COVID-19 policies,” Hillier posted yesterday on social media..“Well, that day has now passed and I remain in limbo with (sic) the Ontario court system. Due to the overload of tickets and legal actions around the COVID orders, the systemic disruptions they have created in our courts, my fight to end these overreaching orders is delayed to an undisclosed date,” he went on..“I will get my court date, and I’m confident the orders will be defeated. I hope to have more information soon.”.Constitutional challenges of this nature are typically argued around Section I of the Charter, which guaranteesthe rights and freedoms set out in it are subject only to such “reasonable limits” prescribed by law as can be “demonstrably justified in a free and democratic society.”.Hillier will likely have to prove that the provincial lockdown is not “reasonable” or “justified”..Amidst the growing din of anti-lockdown voices around the world, and the increasing volume of scientific evidence showing that masks provide limited or no protection against infection, Hillier has support for his argument..The World Health Organization (WHO) is currently urging world leaders to end lockdowns, due to the negative impact on physical and mental health, and the economic devastation caused by unemployment and bankruptcy..In October, over 6,000 epidemiologists and scientists signed the Great Barrington Declaration also recommending an immediate end to lockdowns..The Independent MPP from MPP Lanark-Frontenac-Kingston is being represented by the Justice Centre for Constitutional Freedoms, who are specialists in litigation in support of right-wing causes..If found guilty, he could face a fine between $10,000 to $100,000 and a year in jail..Ken Grafton is the Western Standards Ottawa Bureau Chief. He can be reached at kgrafton@westernstandardonline.com
