Tag Archives: Justice Centre of Constitutional Freedom

Crown drops Covid charges against Derek Sloan, Randy Hillier, and other protestors

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[The charges derailed Randy Hillier’s political career. He did not seek re-election. Sure, the charges are dropped, but the threat hung over him and the others for months. The charges and the long delay in dropping them were an ABUSE OF PROCESS, part of the State’s efforts to derail and smash pro-freedom dissent. — Paul Fromm]

Crown drops Covid charges against Derek Sloan, Randy Hillier, and other protestors

Posted On: September 26, 2022

NORFOLK, ONTARIO: The Justice Centre is pleased to announce that the Crown has dropped charges against former MPP Randy Hiller, former MP Derek Sloan, Pastor Heinrich Hildebrandt, and private citizen, Dan Stasko. The four men were allegedly involved in peaceful rallies against Covid measures in June 2021 and were charged with violating public health orders under the Reopening Ontario Act. After negotiations with

After negotiations with Bally Hundal, a lawyer retained by the Justice Centre, the Crown dropped all charges, stating that prosecution was no longer in the public interest.

Ontario has implemented lockdowns since the beginning of the pandemic and placed significant restrictions on the right to peaceful protest. In June 2021, the four men were charged for participating in a peaceful demonstration in Norfolk, Ontario. There were approximately 200-300 people at this outdoor demonstration against the Covid measures implemented by the Ontario government.

Mr. Hillier, Mr. Sloan, Pastor Hildebrandt and Mr. Stasko were concerned with the Covid restrictions – health orders which significantly curtailed the right to peaceful protest. For exercising their Charter rights to assemble peacefully and protest the government measures, they were charged with offences carrying potential fines of $100,000 to each individual as well as up to one year in prison.

“Peaceful demonstration is an essential pillar of a democratic society,” says Justice Centre lawyer Henna Parmar. “Citizens have the right to make their opinions known. We are pleased in this case to hear that the Crown will not proceed with prosecuting citizens who spoke out against harsh government lockdowns.”

Justice Centre to defend numerous individuals and faith communities issued $2300 tickets under BC public health orders

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News Release Justice Centre to defend numerous individuals and faith communities issued $2300 tickets under BC public health orders
Photo: Dawson Creek Mirror VANCOUVER: The Justice Centre of Constitutional Freedoms announced today that it will be challenging more than a dozen $2300 tickets given to different British Columbia individuals and faith communities, all for allegedly violating COVID public health orders.
 
The Justice Centre represents the following individuals and faith communities from across the province of British Columbia:

Alain Beaudoin
Brent Smith
Free Grace Baptist Church
Free Reformed Church of Chilliwack
Grant Reich
Heather Lucier
Immanuel Covenant Reformed Church
Jack Schoeman
James Butler
John Koopman
Jonah Zryd
Kelowna Harvest Fellowship
Riverside Calvary Chapel
Timothy Champ
Valley Heights Community Church
100 Mile House Baptist Church

The Province of B.C., specifically Chief Medical Officer Dr. Bonnie Henry, has made orders prohibiting people from organizing or attending “events” “except as provided for” in her Orders. 
 
This has resulted in individuals being ticketed while exercising their Charter rights to peacefully protest because they did not comply with various requirements in the Orders, such as collecting the first and last names and contact information of fellow protestors. 
 
Further, in-person worship services have been completely prohibited, regardless of the extra safety measures implemented by the faith community. Pastors and faith communities have been issued whopping fines for holding religious services despite having gone to extraordinary lengths to comply with health guidelines, including limiting attendance to no more than 50 persons, pre-registering attendees, rearranging seating to ensure physical distancing, providing hand sanitizer and masks and enhancing cleaning and sanitizing procedures. 
 
Many members of faith communities cannot access online services. For these individuals, gathering in-person is essential to their spiritual and emotional well-being, especially to cope with the negative effects of lockdowns. Support groups have been allowed to remain open, yet the government of BC has warned: “Do not attend a service at a church, synagogue, mosque, gurdwara, temple, or other places of worship”. These severe measures are being imposed on BC residents, while the BC government allows hundreds of people to gather at any given time in a Walmart or Costco. The government allows residents to gather and seat six at a table at bars and restaurants. 
 
On January 7, 2021, the Justice Centre filed a Petition challenging the BC governments’ lockdown Orders on the basis that they unjustifiably violate the rights and freedoms of BC residents protected by the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, including freedom of conscience and religion; freedom of thought, belief, opinion and expression; freedom of peaceful assembly; freedom of association; and the rights to life, liberty and security of the person as well as equality rights.
 
The Petition also challenges the Orders on the basis that they are unreasonable and exceed Dr. Bonnie Henry’s authority as Provincial Health Officer.
 
“The Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms protects the right of citizens to protest and to gather for religious worship and puts the onus on government to show that any infringement of Charter freedoms is justified in the circumstances,” notes Marty Moore, Justice Centre staff lawyer.
 
“Individuals across the province of BC have been issued significant fines for responsibly exercising their fundamental Charter rights and freedoms,” states Mr. Moore. “The Justice Centre’s legal team will be challenging each of these tickets in court. COVID-19 does not cancel Canadians’ constitutional rights.”
 

For media interviews please contact:
 
Marty Moore, Staff Lawyer, Justice Centre
Phone : (587) 998-1806
Email: mmoore@jccf.ca; media@jccf.ca
 
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