There's been no word yet on whether charges will be laid after crowd of roughly 300 people gathered in Tecumseh Park in Chatham on Monday for a planned No More Lockdowns Canada gathering.
Prior to the event, Chatham-Kent’s Chief Administrative Officer Don Shropshire said people have a right to protest, but added they must follow COVID-19 safety guidelines. He said tickets would be issued to those defying the rules.
When asked on Monday about potential charges under the Reopening Ontario Act, Chatham-Kent police directed inquiries to Chatham-Kent's bylaw enforcement officials. Blackburn News was still waiting for a response from bylaw enforcement officials on possible charges by the time of publication Tuesday morning.
A spokesperson for Chatham-Kent police said uniform officers were in the area for public safety and that a police "UAS (drone) was utilized to assist the Municipal Bylaw Enforcement Team with their investigation."
"We did have a strategic operational plan in place yesterday, where our primary objective was to ensure public safety," said CKPS Constable Renee Cowell. "Our goal has and will be to continue to ensure a peaceful demonstration, which was ultimately accomplished yesterday."
Under the current provincewide Stay-at-Home order in Ontario, "you are not allowed to gather indoors or outdoors with anyone you do not live with, except one other person from outside of the household that lives alone" and you are also required to "limit close contact to only members of your household." Both of those directions were clearly being violated by attendees at the event, including Independent MPP Randy Hillier, who represents a riding in eastern Ontario.
Hillier was also joined by Independent MP Derek Sloan and Pastor Henry Hildebrandt from the Church of God in Aylmer who have both been openly critical of the current public health and safety measures put in place by the provincial government.
Hillier told Blackburn News prior to Monday's event that he believes mental health is a bigger issue currently than the virus itself, adding that he wants the lockdowns to end, he wants all businesses to reopen, and he wants people to be free. The MPP has also attended similar gatherings around the province, promoting unverified claims of the dangers and ineffectiveness of wearing masks or face coverings and disputing the record number of COVID-19 patients in Intensive Care Units across Ontario.
All of those claims are being rejected by public health officials in the province, including Chatham-Kent Medical Officer of Health Dr. David Colby.
"Mr. Hillier can dispute all he likes but he is making false claims," Dr. Colby told Blackburn News Tuesday morning. "The hospitalization/ICU rates are a matter of public record and these are not falsified numbers."
The provincial government, Ontario Health, and the Ontario Hospital Association (OHA) have repeatedly said that ICU capacity is stretched to its limit and hospital workers are exhausted. OHA President Anthony Dale noted on Twitter on Tuesday that, as of April 27, 2021, there were 865 patients with COVID-19 related critical illness in Ontario adult and paediatric ICUs.
Dr. Colby did acknowledge that concerns about mental health during the pandemic are valid, but questioned Hillier's authority on the issue.
"Mental health is a big issue but someone lacking in expertise like Mr. Hillier should not be taken seriously when making such broad health claims," added Dr. Colby. "He needs to be asked about the basis for this comparison. It's not a matter of opinion."
When Hillier was asked if he is worried about spreading the virus or even catching the virus because of the protests, he said he has been protesting lockdowns for a year and has yet to catch the virus or hear of any protester attending the "No More Lockdowns Canada" rallies getting sick from the virus as a result of the gatherings.
"I've been doing this for a year now and I've never had a sniffle or had a cold nor do I know anybody that attended these events... nobody has contracted COVID from any of these events," said Hillier.
Hillier admitted the virus can be dangerous, but he believes the biggest concern is for the elderly and people with significant other underlying or pre-existing conditions.
When it comes to being ticketed for contravening the Reopening Ontario Act, Hillier said he is also prepared for that, but said it is worth it because people need to debate policy.
Hillier said he'll take a break after the Chatham protest before going to another protest in Pembroke on May 8, 2021. He protested in Peterborough on Saturday and attended a controversial service with Pastor Hildebrandt at the Church of God in Aylmer on Sunday. Prior to the rally in Peterborough, the city's mayor tweeted at Hillier that his "travelling clown convention" wasn't welcome in her community.
During Monday's gathering, protesters could be heard shouting "Genocide" and "Nazis" as Hillier referred to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and other political leaders in Canada.
Dr. Colby called those comments "hurtful," adding that Hildebrandt's likening of public health measures to a "Gestapo police state" was inaccurate, inappropriate, and disgraceful.
"The leaders were very angry and full of all kinds of rhetoric, calling government and health officials 'Nazis'... people who are doing their jobs trying to improve the health of people and keep people safe," said Dr. Colby. "It's hard enough to fight the virus without having to fight the disinformation that's being spread."
