It will be at least Wednesday before the city learns if it’s granted a court injunction to prevent more ‘freedom rallies’ in Barrie.
Scott LaMantia, the city’s senior communications advisor, said the matter has been adjourned until Wednesday.
“(It’s) to allow the defendant’s counsel to review materials and get instructions,” LaMantia said.
Last Thursday, the City of Barrie issued a notice of application with the Ontario Superior Court of Justice for an injunction to restrain the organizer from organizing, hosting and participating in any further gatherings on city property.
The local demonstrations began in mid-March and have been staged at Meridian Place, Centennial Park and Sadlon Arena.
An injunction is an order stopping someone, or prohibiting them, from doing something. The court may order an injunction to prevent harm or to protect a legal right.
These so-called freedom rallies have been held contrary to the provincial stay-at-home order, provincial legislation and regulations, the city’s COVID-19 emergency measures bylaw, and the Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit’s public health guidelines.
The city doesn’t condone these gatherings and has not provided permission to use its land. To this point they have been held at Meridian Place, which is now fenced to prevent the rallies, Barrie’s waterfront and in the parking lot behind Sadlon Arena.
The organizers have not obtained permits required to use city property and the city has said it would not issue permits given the health orders and regulations in place.
To deter these gatherings, Mayor Jeff Lehman issued an emergency order on April 29 to close and fence off Meridian Place.
Barrie city police have also attended these gatherings during the last several weeks and have issued more than 20 tickets under the Reopening Ontario Act, with fines totalling more than $18,000.
There have also been seven summons issued, with court dates pending. More tickets could be issued as many as 30 days after the offence and summons to appear before the courts could be served as long as six months after the date of the offence.
Municipal enforcement staff have not attended these gatherings, but are reviewing information provided by those who witnessed the gatherings, to pursue further charges under the city’s municipal bylaws.
