An Ontario Crown attorney has withdrawn COVID-19 tickets against former independent MP Derek Sloan, former independent MPP Randy Hillier, Church of God pastor Henry Hildebrandt, and private citizen Dan Stasko. .“Peaceful demonstration is an essential pillar of a democratic society,” said Justice Centre for Constitutional Freedoms (JCCF) lawyer Henna Parmar in a Monday press release. .“Citizens have the right to make their opinions known.” .The four men were allegedly involved in peaceful rallies against COVID-19 restrictions in 2021 and were charged with violating public health measures under the Reopening Ontario Act. The release said after negotiations with JCCF-retained lawyer Bally Hundal, the Crown attorney dropped all charges, saying prosecution was no longer in the public interest. .Sloan, Hillier, Hildebrandt, and Stasko were charged for participating in an anti-lockdown rally in Norfolk, ON, in 2021. There were about 200 to 300 people attending this protest. .The release said the four men attended this protest because they were concerned with COVID-19 restrictions. It said for exercising their freedom of peaceful assembly guaranteed under the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, they were charged with offences carrying fines of $100,000 for each person and up to one year in prison. .“We are pleased in this case to hear that the Crown will not proceed with prosecuting citizens who spoke out against harsh government lockdowns,” said Parmar. .Sloan was charged with breaking Ontario’s COVID-19 lockdown measures by attending a service at the Church of God in 2021. .READ MORE: WATCH: MP Sloan charged with breaking COVID lockdown laws.Two Ontario Provincial Police officers visited Sloan at home and gave him the ticket..“They delivered a summons for standing up for freedom at the Church of God in Aylmer last Sunday,” he said.
