The Crown Attorney's office has withdrawn all charges against Waterloo resident Randal Linton, who faced potential jail time and fines for attending a 2021 anti-lockdown rally.
WATERLOO: The Crown Attorney's office has officially withdrawn all charges against Randal Linton, a Waterloo resident who attended an anti-lockdown rally in 2021. Mr. Linton had been charged with failure to comply under the Reopening Ontario Act and an additional charge under the Emergency Management and Civil Protection Act. Upon conviction, Mr. Linton could have been jailed for a maximum of 1 year and fined up to $100,000.
As part of the resolution, Mr. Linton agreed to make a $300 donation to the local Food Bank.
Mr. Linton attended the rally to protest the government's restrictions on social gatherings, a stance captured on video - which eventually led to the charges being issued by the police.
Adam Blake-Gallipeau, lawyer with The Democracy Fund (TDF), expressed satisfaction with the outcome. "Mr. Linton's participation in the rally was a legitimate exercise of his Charter rights to peacefully assemble and express his views. We are pleased that he can now move forward with his life," said Blake-Gallipeau.
TDF's advocacy resulted in the withdrawal of the charges through negotiation, highlighting the importance of vigorous defence counsel in protecting individual rights.
"I wouldn't have been able to pay a serious fine, and the stress on my family was huge. I'm grateful for the work TDF did," Mr. Linton commented.
To support the fight against unconstitutional mandates, laws, and government overreach, consider making a tax-deductible donation to The Democracy Fund.
About The Democracy Fund:
Founded in 2021, The Democracy Fund (TDF) is a Canadian charity dedicated to constitutional rights, advancing education, and relieving poverty. TDF promotes constitutional rights through litigation and public education and supports an access to justice initiative for Canadians whose civil liberties have been infringed by government lockdowns and other public policy responses to the pandemic.