NEWS + OPINION
The prime minister of Canada and the Liberal establishment continue to crack down on dissent, with sitting politician Randy Hillier the latest to be arrested.
Outspoken COVID-19 skeptic and MPP Randy Hillier turned himself in to Ottawa Police Monday to be handcuffed and booked.
The charges stem from his alleged involvement in the Freedom Convoy, a protest that shut down part of the nation’s capital for over three weeks. Recently he was banned from Twitter for his vocal opposition to COVID-19 restrictions.
Hillier’s bail hearing is ongoing at the time of writing. As he fights for bail, prosecutors are reportedly using his Twitter posts against him, according to local media.
According to a press release by the Ottawa Police, Hillier’s charges are:
- Mischief/Obstruct Property Exceeding $5000 X1
- Counsel An Uncommitted Indictable Offence (Mischief) X2
- Mischief/Obstruct Property Exceeding $5000 X1
- Obstruct/Resist Person Aiding Public/Peace Officer X1
- Obstruct/Resist A Public Officer X2
- Assault Peace Or Public Officer X1
- Counsel An Uncommitted Indictable X1
Canada is a nation of laws. However, our Charter gives Canadians lateral when it comes to protests.
Quite often, when minor criminal offences are committed during an otherwise peaceful protest, the police and courts go easy on the offenders. This is because the Charter is there to protect people’s right to protest. Or is supposed to.
Yes, Hillier’s remarks were often hyperbolic, sometimes inflammatory. He has been caught red-handed spreading information that wasn’t based in fact. But he’s not a criminal. Trudeau and the Liberal establishment (including the Ottawa judiciary) are showing their true colours.
It is quite clear the law is being applied selectively. And by selectively, it suspiciously seems to only be applied to opponents or critics of Justin Trudeau.
Canada is not a country where politicians control the police and courts. But they can put pressure on them. Judges, prosecutors, and police officers all have their political biases.
While it’s hard to prove, what other conclusion can one come to, beside Trudeau and his Liberal establishment want to quash political dissent?
This comes as the Liberal government revamp talks about censoring the internet under the guise of fighting “Russian disinformation.”
While Trudeau may not be as bad as Vladimir Putin, or Xi Jinping, it’s hard not to feel like Canada is moving closer in that direction with each and every passing day.
Great journalism.