• Subscribe
QP Briefing
News

COVID-19 rules barring protests in 2021 were unconstitutional: Ontario's top court

Published Apr 8, 2025 at 9:08pm

The Canadian Press
By
The Canadian Press
COVID-19 rules barring protests in 2021 were unconstitutional: Ontario's top court

Ontario MPP Randy Hillier smokes a cigarette as he speaks with the media before turning himself in at the Ottawa Police Services headquarters, Monday, March 28, 2022 in Ottawa. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld

Provincial restrictions on gatherings that prohibited peaceful protests in Ontario for several weeks during the COVID-19 pandemic were unconstitutional, the province's top court ruled Monday.

The Court of Appeal for Ontario made the finding in a case brought by former Ontario legislator Randy Hillier, who faced several charges for organizing or hosting protests against pandemic measures while the rules were in effect in the spring of 2021.

Hillier appealed after the judge who heard his application found that while the limits on gatherings did infringe on his right to peaceful assembly, they were demonstrably justified and therefore constitutional.

Read this for free.

Log in below to get access to this article. One free per week.

About QP Briefing

Queen's Park Briefing is a membership-based information source, covering all political and legislative movements at the provincial level. QP Briefing memberships are held by stakeholders, professionals, business leaders, and Ontario parliamentarians.

Our team provides deep analytic content for a wide array of high level decision makers standing at the intersection of private and public sector affairs. QP Briefing's in-depth coverage keeps our members at the forefront of complex policy issues, political advancements and private sector affairs.

QP Briefing is an invaluable information tool and is a passionate resource for members of the Ontario Public Service, Public Affairs Firms and Strategists, Government Agencies, MP's and all those claiming a stake in provincial politics.

Contact us

Subscriptions and Account Management
sales@ipolitics.ca
Partnerships and Events
Laura Pennell
Publisher
Editorial Inquiries
QP Briefing © 2025. An iPolitics publication.