Another weekend means another gathering by anti-restrictions protesters in downtown Barrie.
The ongoing demonstrations — which have been dubbed 'freedom rallies' and have been held for the past several weeks — at Meridian Place have attracted a lot of negative attention from downtown business owners, residents and city council members.
The rallies are in opposition to any and all COVID-19 health restrictions. Organizers say the gatherings will only stop once all are lifted.
Police have handed out nine tickets — including two to the organizer — during the last two Saturdays, because the gatherings are breaching the provincial stay-at-home order.
Barrie police communications co-ordinator Peter Leon told BarrieToday that officers will again be present at the demonstration and have an operational plan they will follow. However, he said he can’t speak to the specifics of that plan.
“There is an element of the plan that recognizes the need for a balanced and gradual approach when it comes to the enforcement of provincial legislation,” said Leon, reiterating the police department's message in recent weeks.
“The Barrie Police Service recognize that there exists a balance to the right to assemble, which is guaranteed by the Charter of Rights and Freedoms, and the continued need to respect the enforcement regulations found within the Reopening Ontario Act and the Emergency Management and Civil Protection Act that exist to reduce the spread of COVID-19," he added.
City police will continue to assess and respond to protests within the city in “a professional and safe manner," Leon said.
On Thursday, Coun. Natalie Harrie tweeted an image of the poster being used to advertise the Saturday rally with the message: “For the record, I’m a hard NO to this 'rally'.”
That post was retweeted by Barrie-area MPPs Andrea Khanjin and Doug Downey.
“I’m with (Natalie Harris) on this one," said Khanjin, who represents Barrie-Innisfil.
Downey, the province's attorney general and MPP for Barrie-Springwater-Oro-Medonte, also shared the tweet, adding “as a wise person once told me, 'Just because you think you have the right, doesn’t mean you are right'.”
A petition has been started by former city councillor Rose Romita demanding action against illegal public gatherings happening in downtown Barrie. The petition states the gatherings are “not about constitutional rights, as the rally organizer would have you believe. These rallies are putting your constitutional rights and health in jeopardy.”
On Friday, the Downtown Barrie Business Improvement Association (BIA) released a letter saying it would "continue to champion the call to #SupportLocal safely and issue reminders that supporting local also means being kind, patient and respectful to our hard-working, independent and resilient businesses.”
Prior to last weekend's gathering, all members of Barrie city council signed a letter condemning the event and urging attendees to stay home.
“We understand you don’t like the lockdown. We don’t either, nobody does. But it is saving lives. It’s what we need to do right now. Please don’t gather. It’s wrong, it’s dangerous, and it’s incredibly selfish. On behalf of all of our residents, particularly the elderly, immunocompromised, and all others vulnerable to COVID-19, please stay home.”
When it was announced that People's Party of Canada leader Maxime Bernier was coming to Barrie for last weekend's rally, Barrie MPs John Brassard and Doug Shipley also spoke out against the ongoing demonstrations.
In a joint letter, Brassard and Shipley urged people to take the public health precautions seriously, so as not to put further burden on the province's health-care system, or risk making their neighbours sick.
