Great Canadian Freedom Convoy fallout: weeks later, Ottawa Police charge Randy Hillier

Credit Instagram's @randy.hillier (and @6ixnewzz) with this footage of him turning himself in to Ottawa Police because, at the time, they wanted to charge him over his actions at the Great Canadian Freedom Convoy on Parliament Hill in February 2022. Of note is the fact that Hillier is a sitting Member of Provincial Parliament (MPP) in the Ontario legislature.

Nine charges were brought [0-3], and in some news media articles below, you can see interviews that happened afterwards.

As Mr Hillier says: "Differing and dissenting views are now apparently criminal, so that is a disturbing trend."

The nine charges were:
* two counts of obstructing or resisting a public officer,
* one count of assaulting a peace or public officer
* three counts of counselling an uncommitted indictable office,
* two of which are considered mischief or obstructing property exceeding $5,000

The investigation began in February after “multiple complaints” were received about his social media posts. He was released on bail, to which strict conditions attach, including a $35,000 bond and an order not to post on social media about the ‘Freedom Convoy’ and COVID-19 mask and vaccine mandates. He is also forbidden from attending or providing any support to the ‘Freedom Convoy’ or any anti-mask or anti-vaccine organizations or causes. Hillier is also banned from communicating with a number of other people facing charges in relation to the protests.

Justice of the Peace Louise Logue said it was clear he has a substantial following on social media and "your posting on social media poses a substantial risk," thus the astronomical surety.

We'll see what happens at his trial. But things don't look to good when the whole of Canadian bien-pensant society (including the judge and likely the jury) is against you.

The charges of assaulting a peace officer are troublesome. We read that Hillier "hip-checked" the officer [1] as he brushed past him. This is a love tap, and I'm sure the officer sustained little or no physical ill-effect. It could be said that if the Crown wants to press charges on such a minor incident they seek their pound of flesh, and that over a relatively minor event. Yes, it does send a signal, that protests over covid mandates (not laws) are sufficient to override Charter Rights in the Schwabian nightmare that is Trudeau's Canada.

[0] https://nationalpost.com/news/canada/mpp-randy-hillier-says-he-has-no-idea-why-hes-charged-with-assaulting-a-peace-officer

[1] https://ottawa.ctvnews.ca/mpp-randy-hillier-surrenders-to-ottawa-police-to-face-freedom-convoy-related-charges-1.5837294

[2] https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/ottawa/randy-hillier-arrest-protest-convoy-ottawa-mpp-1.6399669