![\"\"\/](\"https:\/\/i.cbc.ca\/1.6276825.1638905124!\/fileImage\/httpImage\/image.JPG_gen\/derivatives\/16x9_780\/mpp-belinda-karahalios-dec-7-2021-no-vaccine-covid.JPG\")
Cambridge MPP Belinda Karahalios was removed from the Ontario Legislature on Tuesday morning because she isn’t vaccinated for COVID-19.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Karahalios recently tested positive for the virus<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Karahalios argued she should be allowed in the chamber because she provided proof of a negative rapid antigen test.<\/p>\n\n\n\n “I’m not in contravention of the rules.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n Arnott asked Karahalios to leave at least three times before she was escorted out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Karahalios has been outspoken in her criticism of vaccine mandates<\/a> and lockdowns during the pandemic.<\/p>\n\n\n\n She was elected as a Progressive Conservative in 2018, but was removed from the caucus in July 2020<\/a> 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n She has since gone on to form the New Blue Party<\/a> with her husband, Jim Karahalios.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" 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 … Continue reading