WINDSOR, ONT. One charge has been laid following an anti-lockdown event in Chatham’s Tecumseh Park on Monday. Chatham-Kent’s Chief Administrative Officer Don Shropshire confirmed the charge during a news conference with reporters on Thursday. Shropshire expected further charges under the Reopening Ontario Act or other pertinent legislation. “It’s a charter right to protest,” said Shropshire. “The challenge is that they had to do it in a way which would be safe.” When questioned why it seemed to be taking time to lay charges, he added municipal bylaw enforcement officials continue to investigate and review drone video.
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One person has been charged in connection with an anti-lockdown protest in Chatham and more likely will be, Chatham-Kent’s top administrator says.
Chief administrative officer Don Shropshire did not have any information Thursday on the first protest-related charge, but he said “there are other charges expected, so that’s not the end of it.”
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“You can expect those charges will be laid over the coming weeks,” he said.
Messages left Thursday with three other municipal officials about the latest charge were not immediately returned.
One charge laid, more expected after Chatham s anti-lockdown protest chathamthisweek.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from chathamthisweek.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
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Some Chatham-Kent businesses are planning to reopen in defiance of the province’s stay-at-home order, arguing it won’t be possible to fine everyone who breaks the rules.
That could be a costly gamble for business owners and their customers, municipal officials said Thursday.
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Try refreshing your browser. Businesses warned to follow stay-at-home rules or face hefty fines Back to video
Patrons who attend a business that’s required to be closed can be fined a minimum of $880 under the Reopening Ontario Act while businesses can be fined up to $100,000 and corporations up to $10 million for violating COVID-19 regulations.
April 16, 2021
Local officials are urging everyone – residents and business owners alike – not to break the rules when it comes to the current stay at home order from the province.
Medical Officer of Health Dr. David Colby says protests and businesses defying provincial regulations are missing the point.
“There seems to be a disconnect between folks that are protesting and opening in defiance of provincial law,” Dr. Colby says. “The lockdown is not the problem, the lockdown is a reaction to a wave of very serious infection, where we’re seeing younger and younger people being admitted to hospital with a serious disease, this is the reaction to the reality of a third wave.”