I just sat down to write you an update on another disturbing policy from the Ontario PC government, when I received an email informing me that my trial date has been set for two fines I received back in April 2021 related to Doug Ford's lockdowns. 

You likely remember Bill 195, which the Ontario PCs passed in the summer of 2020 and extended until last spring.  That legislation removed every MPP’s right to debate and vote on legislation they told us was introduced as a result of COVID-19 that gave Doug Ford the power to impose the longest and most frequent lockdowns in North America.

Ontario’s mask mandates, school and business closures, healthcare firings, and COVID-19 vaccine passport system were all due to the Ford PC government and Bill 195.

Unfortunately, I was the only current or former PC MPP to vote against the bill and the only politician in Canada to be expelled from a political party or lose a position in government for voting against a piece of lockdown related legislation.

After I was removed from the Ontario PC Party in July of 2020, I continued to represent my constituents and Ontarians who were being ignored by the establishment parties while also ensuring our family recovered from my husband Jim's treatments and surgeries for a cancerous tumour in his leg.

When a group of frustrated local residents asked me to speak at their gathering in Waterloo, I agreed. 

A few days after speaking at the gathering, I was shocked to receive a knock on my door.

It was a Waterloo Region bylaw officer accompanied by two Waterloo Regional police officers.  

They were handing me two provincial offence tickets of $880.00 each.

I immediately chose to contest the fines and requested a trial date in court.

And over two years later, I have only just now received my trial date - while other supposed "freedom fighters" who received their fines after me have mostly had their charges dropped. 

Needless to say, I will be fighting both tickets at the trial date!

For me, the trial is another reminder of just how anti-democratic and authoritarian the Ontario PC Party has become in their pursuit of becoming the new Ontario wing of the Trudeau Liberals.

But with your support, we will keep on fighting.

And we will continue to grow the New Blue Party and increase the pressure on Ontario’s establishment parties.

We are looking forward to running candidates in the upcoming provincial by-elections taking place in Kanata-Carleton, Scarborough-Guildwood, and Kitchener Centre (dates to be announced).

Please share our emails with friends and family and on social media, and if you are able, click here to chip in and help us prepare for these by-election campaigns!

Together, we will challenge the left, balance the narrative, and change the course in Ontario.

Belinda Karahalios
New Blue Party of Ontario