Censoring Dissent in the Ontario Legislature: Independent MPP& COVID Crackdown Critic Belinda Karahalios Banned for 90 Days: Cambridge MPP Belinda Karahalios ousted from Ontario Legislature over vaccination status

Karahalios argued proof of negative test meant she was not in contravention of rules

CBC News · Posted: Dec 07, 2021 2:50 PM ET | Last Updated: December 7

Cambridge MPP Belinda Karahalios was removed from the Ontario Legislature on Tuesday morning because she isn’t vaccinated for COVID-19.

Karahalios recently tested positive for the virus.

As such, Speaker Ted Arnott told her the current advice from the public officer of health is that Karahalios must be out of the chamber for 90 days following her positive test.

Karahalios argued she should be allowed in the chamber because she provided proof of a negative rapid antigen test.

“I’m not in contravention of the rules.”

Arnott asked Karahalios to leave at least three times before she was escorted out.

Karahalios has been outspoken in her criticism of vaccine mandates and lockdowns during the pandemic.

She was elected as a Progressive Conservative in 2018, but was removed from the caucus in July 2020 after voting against a bill that allowed the province to extend or amend some emergency orders a month at a time for up to two years without consulting the legislature.

She has since gone on to form the New Blue Party with her husband, Jim Karahalios.