COVID-19
How far is too far? How much is too much? The role of reason in pandemic control
How far is too far????
I have been watching with interest the great extremes Canadian municipalities have gone to in the great cause of ‘protecting’ Canadians.
While I do not deny the devastating effects of Covid 19 on those who are most vulnerable to its potential respiratory destruction, nor the basket of symptoms from fever to loss of taste, I am incredibly cynical of the extremism displayed in measures enacted by governmental bodies in each province!
The level of care exhibited by medical and health care professionals is awe inspiring, so much so that those in the medical front lines have bee publicly lauded and thanked, though probably not enough.
Those who are working in what is deemed essential services have been exemplary as well-grocery stores, drug stores and other retail outlets with goods necessary for survival.
Firstly, I have to question a few things. How was the list of essential services arrived at? And more importantly, what makes a church NON ESSENTIAL when a liquor store is still open? Spiritual care is far more long lasting (eternal) and beneficial to mental and family health than a retail outlet whose products, if mis used for self medication has led to destruction of marriages and incredible social destruction?
Secondly, if we are looking to banning activities with an eye to public safety, why is going to busy retail outlets deemed ‘safe’ when activities conducted outdoors, like going to parks or playgrounds are not safe or recommended.
It would make sense to me that any activity that occurs where there are few people, or protection via real glass or real distance, like camping and fishing or walking amidst our many parks and dog walk areas would be encouraged as opposed to being banned.
If anyone has gone into a Walmart or Superstore, and they are vulnerable or not necessarily well, the close contact with other shoppers accidental or on purpose, clearly does not fall under the no-contact or isolation recommendations.
Thirdly, if we, as a country are concerned about keeping people employed, why is there not a protocol in place to allow healthy workers to return to their employment to keep our economy going instead of keeping the 90 plus percent home and allowing our businesses to stagnate or potentially close? Why don’t we keep the vulnerable and symptom exhibiting Canadians home?
If anyone has been traveling, stay home.
With the isolation order and economic shut down in place, all of Canada is being considered guilty (carrier or ill with symptoms) instead of innocent (healthy) first!
Fourthly, where is our national, provincial and local leadership? With our national health spokesperson telling us to stay home for everyone’s protection, where is the voice of leadership that looks at this with a voice of reason and balance? One that provides guidance and humility that says, we can’t handle this on our own without REASON and without fear?
We also need to realize that without spiritual leaders coming to the forefront and providing calm, spiritually based principles for coping in this time where fear is the common currency and panic is the common denominator amongst communities.
In truth, science alone will not help us through this crisis, but rather a balanced approach that recognizes the sovereignty of God in our lives will take us through this. We need leaders who publicly espouse faith and humility, not a changing narrative in science that is being questioned worldwide.
Let us pray that the voice of reason and faith is louder than the cries of fear in our nation.
From LifeSiteNews
The Crown’s appeal claims the judge made a mistake in her verdict on the intimidation charges, and also in how she treated aggravating and mitigating factors regarding sentencing.
Government lawyers for the Crown have filed an appeal the acquittals of Freedom Convoy leaders Tamara Lich and Chris Barber on intimidation charges.
The Crown also wants their recent 18-month conditional sentence on mischief charges replaced with harsher penalties, which could include possible jail time.
According to the Justice Centre for Constitutional Freedoms (JCCF), it is “asking the Ontario Court of Appeal to enter a conviction on the intimidation charge or order a new trial on that count,” for Barber’s charges.
Specifically, the Crown’s appeal claims that the judge made a mistake in her verdict on the intimidation charges, and also in how she treated aggravating and mitigating factors regarding sentencing.
As reported by LifeSiteNews, both Lich and Barber have filed appeals of their own against their house arrest sentences, arguing that the trial judge did not correctly apply the law on their mischief charges.
Barber’s lawyer, Diane Magas, said that her client “relied in good faith on police and court direction during the protest. The principles of fairness and justice require that citizens not be punished for following the advice of authorities. We look forward to presenting our arguments before the Court.”
On October 7, Ontario Court Justice Heather Perkins-McVey sentenced Lich and Chris Barber to 18 months’ house arrest after being convicted earlier in the year of “mischief.”
Lich was given 18 months less time already spent in custody, amounting to 15 1/2 months.
Lich and Barber were declared guilty of mischief for their roles as leaders of the protest against COVID mandates in April 2022, and as social media influencers. The conviction came after a nearly two-year trial despite the non-violent nature of the popular movement.
The Lich and Barber trial concluded in September 2024, more than a year after it began. It was originally scheduled to last 16 days.
As reported by LifeSiteNews, the Canadian government was hoping to put Lich in jail for no less than seven years and Barber for eight years.
LifeSiteNews recently reported that Lich detailed her restrictive house arrest conditions, revealing she is “not” able to leave her house or even pick up her grandchildren from school without permission from the state.
As reported by LifeSiteNews, Lich, reflecting on her recent house arrest verdict, said she has no “remorse” and will not “apologize” for leading a movement that demanded an end to all COVID mandates.
From LifeSiteNews
Lawyers will argue that there is no evidence linking Tamara Lich ‘to the misdeeds of others.’
Freedom Convoy leader Tamara Lich said she will appeal her recent mischief conviction in an Ontario court, with her lawyers saying “there was no evidence linking her to the misdeeds of others.”
In a press release late yesterday, Lich’s legal team, headed by Lawrence Greenspon, Eric Granger, and Hannah Drennan, made the announcement.
“Lawyers for Tamara Lich filed Notice of Appeal in the Ontario Court of Appeal of the conviction for mischief arising out of the Freedom Convoy,” the release stated.
Lich’s legal team noted that there are two reasons for the principal grounds of appeal.
“While there was substantial evidence that Tamara encouraged the protesters to be peaceful, lawful and safe, there was no evidence linking her to the misdeeds of others,” they said.
The second reason for the appeal, according to Lich’s lawyers, is that the “trial judge failed to give effect to the principle that communication that would otherwise be mischief is protected by section 2(b) of the Charter, freedom of expression.”
On October 7, Ontario Court Justice Heather Perkins-McVey sentenced Lich and Chris Barber to 18 months’ house arrest after being convicted earlier in the year of “mischief.”
Lich was given 18 months less time already spent in custody, amounting to 15 1/2 months.
As reported by LifeSiteNews, the Canadian government was hoping to put Lich in jail for no less than seven years and Barber for eight years for their roles in the 2022 protests against COVID mandates.
Interestingly, Perkins-McVey said about Lich and Barber during the sentencing, “They came with the noblest of intent and did not advocate for violence.”
As reported by LifeSiteNews, Lich, reflecting on her recent sentencing of over a year’s house arrest for her role in the 2022 Freedom Convoy, laid bare the fact that when all is said in done, seven years of her life will have been spent in a government-imposed “lockdown” in one form or another.
LifeSiteNews recently reported that Lich detailed her restrictive house arrest conditions, revealing she is “not” able to leave her house or even pick up her grandkids from school without permission from the state.
As reported by LifeSiteNews, Lich, reflecting on her recent house arrest verdict, said she has no “remorse” and will not “apologize” for leading a movement that demanded an end to all COVID mandates.
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