Canadian politician charged by Ottawa police over Freedom Convoy truckers’ protest

A Canadian elected member of provincial parliament was arrested Monday in connection to final month’s “Freedom Convoy” protests in Ottawa in opposition to vaccine and coronavirus-related mandates. 

The Ottawa Police Service introduced the arrest of Randall Hillier, 64, of Perth, Ontario. He’s served for the previous 15 years because the Member of Provincial Parliament for Lanark-Frontenac-Kingston. 

The 9 new prices embrace two counts of mischief/obstruction of property exceeding $5000, three counts of counseling an uncommitted indictable offense, one rely of obstruction associated to resting an individual aiding a public/peace officer, two counts of obstruction associated to resisting a public officer and one rely of assault in opposition to a peace or public officer. He’s scheduled to seem in court docket later Monday. 

GIVESENDGO TO REFUND FREEDOM CONVOY DONORS, CLAIMS CANADA GOVERNMENT TRYING TO SEIZE, REDISTRIBUTE MILLIONS 

Ottawa-based protection legal professional David Anber, who’s representing Hillier and others charged in connection to the truckers’ demonstration, instructed Fox Information Digital that he’s nonetheless ready on key info from the prosecutor on what supposed actions by Hillier are being tied to those prices. 

He confirmed that Hillier, who turned himself in to police headquarters earlier Monday, is denying that he ever assaulted a peace or public officer. Requested about whether or not prices in opposition to an elected official in connection to a protest is unprecedented in Canada, Anber mentioned it’s extra widespread in autocracies. 

“It’s definitely unusual and one thing we see extra generally in societies that we wouldn’t contemplate liberal democracies or in any other case free societies,” Anber instructed Fox Information Digital by cellphone Monday. “There’s clearly a sure chill that goes down the backbone of anyone when this occurs, and we’re going to see what the allegations are earlier than I remark any extra on that.” 

Of their press launch, Ottawa police mentioned it acquired “a number of complaints about social media posts and different actions” in February associated to Hillier’s alleged position in “ongoing unlawful protests.” 

Because of this, the Prison Investigations Unit, a police activity pressure established to analyze prison behaviors through the protest, launched an investigation and the costs resulted from its ongoing work. 

Hillier’s workplace criticized what they described as Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s “dictatorial over-reaction to peaceable protesters in Ottawa” in allegedly permitting the arrest of his political opposition. 

“I sit up for the chance to defend myself in opposition to these prices,” Hillier mentioned in a press release shared by his workplace. “Questioning and difficult public coverage is the position and accountability of any elected consultant. Non-violent civil disobedience has been a globally accepted technique of expressing grievance in opposition to governments, till 2022 in Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s Canada.” 

“I’ve been requested to give up for expressing myself on the Freedom Convoy, and I’ve been deemed that I’ve to show that I’m not a hazard to society to have my freedom,” Hillier instructed reporters, in keeping with a video shared to his official Fb web page exhibiting him strolling towards Ottawa police headquarters Monday. “Let’s see what occurs.” 

Canadian Broadcasting Company (CBC) reported that Hillier additionally instructed reporters exterior the constructing that he by no means assaulted an officer and solely greeted folks on the protest with “love and affection and embrace and handshakes.” 

“So, except handshakes or heat embraces at the moment are thought of assault, I don’t know,” Hillier continued. 

Hillier had already been dealing with prices for defying Ontario’s lockdown orders final April for organizing occasions at a restaurant and out of doors patio the federal government ordered shut as a result of pandemic. 

Earlier this month, the impartial politician introduced in a video message that he wouldn’t be searching for re-election for the member of provincial parliament place he’s held since 2007. 

“Our political system is damaged,” he mentioned within the video. “There isn’t any sense spending any extra time making an attempt to repair a damaged system from inside when the issue lies with out.” 

His announcement got here after the Ontario legislature unanimously handed a movement stopping Hillier from taking part in chamber for what Authorities Home Chief Paul Calandra described as “racist and discriminatory” feedback in opposition to federal Transport Minister Omar Alghabra and for social media posts Calandra alleged advised of requires violence. Hillier was suspended from Twitter final month.