The Justice Centre for Constitutional Freedoms (JCCF) initiated a lawsuit against the Ontario government for various COVID-19 restrictions. .“The people of Ontario have suffered as a result of these arbitrary lockdowns, some of the worst in Canada for more than two years,” said JCCF lawyer Chris Naimi in a Thursday press release. .“A total ban on peaceful assembly that prevents Ontarians from voicing their opposition to the government measures is unacceptable in a free and democratic society such as Canada.”.The press release said Naimi and JCCF lawyers Sayeh Hassan and Henna Parmar are representing former Ontario independent MPP Randy Hillier, who was charged for participating in anti-lockdown protests. .Hillier went to the Southbank Bistro Restaurant in Brockville, ON, in April 2021 to protest against the Ontario government’s stay-at-home order and lockdown measures. He attended an anti-lockdown protest in Cornwall, ON, in May 2021. .Since he attended these protests, Hillier was charged under the Reopening Ontario Act (ROA) for failing to comply with public health measures and organizing a public event where the number of people in attendance exceeded the permitted capacity limit. .While the stay-at-home order and capacity restrictions are no longer in effect, the press release said people continue to face fines and imprisonment for violating the ROA. .The Ontario government declared a state of emergency to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic in March 2020. Under the guise of two weeks to flatten the curve, the JCCF said this lockdown devastated small businesses, caused high unemployment, and eroded civil liberties. .The Ontario government declared a second state of emergency because of COVID-19 in January 2021. .It enacted a third state of emergency and a stay-at-home order through the Emergency Management and Civil Protection Act in April 2021. The stay-at-home order banned protests and required people to stay home except for essential reasons. .The JCCF said its lawyers will argue these COVID-19 restrictions violated freedom of expression and freedom of peaceful assembly guaranteed under the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. .Hillier claimed in 2020 the Ontario government’s COVID-19 policies were “criminally negligent” because thousands of people died from them. .He accused the Ontario government of spreading “fear and terror” among people as COVID-19 spread. .He went on to say Ontario Premier Doug Ford had “castrated democracy” by centralizing power in the province’s COVID-19 committee. .Hillier turned himself in to Ottawa police headquarters in March after finding out he would be facing nine criminal charges related to his conduct during the Freedom Convoy. .“I look forward to the opportunity to defend myself against these charges,” he said. .He said questioning and challenging public policy is the role and responsibility of any elected representative.
