On Saturday, January 9th, the left-wing Premier of Quebec, Francois Legault imposed new highly controversial Chinese coronavirus measures, essentially declaring martial law in the province. Three days after Legault’s announcement, Doug Ford, the premiere of the neighboring province of Ontario, vowed he would not allow his province to become a police state like Quebec.
Police departments across Quebec issued dozens of $1,550 fines as the province’s curfew went into effect, it was reported.
“I said, I think it was in March, last March. That you know, lockdowns are not the solution, and now they are doubled on it. Now we have lockdowns and a curfew here in Quebec, and maybe in other provinces.. And why is it not the solution? Because it isn’t working. And at the same time, you know, we need to have our freedom, and governments actually, right now, are looking at us as irresponsible children that they must tell what to do. But we are responsible citizens, and we don’t need lockdowns to fight this virus.”
CTV Montreal reporter Kelly Greig confirmed with police in Sherbrooke, QC that a married couple each received $1,500 fines after they were caught with the wife walking her husband on a leash (like a dog). Along with essential workers, dog-walkers are one of the very few groups of people who are currently allowed to be out after 8 p.m.
The Jewish Community Council of Montreal, the Jewish Hasidic Council of Quebec and several other ultra-Orthodox Jewish congregations have sent a lawyer’s letter to the Legault government urging it to reconsider its ban on gatherings in synagogues and other places of worship during the latest pandemic lockdown.
The letter, prepared by the law firm of Dunton Rainville and delivered to the provincial government last Friday, warns that failure to rescind the ban will see their clients “regretfully” seek redress before the courts.
Premier of Quebec, Francois Legault, has introduced a COVID-19 curfew to help reduce the province’s rising case numbers. It went into effect this past Saturday Jan 8th. Measures include an provincewide curfew from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. with exemptions for essential workers.
All “non-essential” workplaces and businesses including restaurants and gyms will be closed. The fine for breaking curfew will be $1,000 to $6,000. If you or anyone you know are issued one of these fines please head over to FightTheFines.com and we will fight your fine.
Churches and all places of worship are once again closing in the province of Quebec in an effort to stop the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic. This decision is part of a new series of containment measures announced by Premier Francois Legault Jan. 6.
Quebec elementary schools are set to reopen on Monday after a nearly three-week hiatus to help curb the spread of COVID-19 during the holidays.
Some feel the move to allow children and teachers to gather in classrooms again is still too early as coronavirus cases continue to skyrocket in the province.
The government is reportedly considering having the measures in place from 8 p.m. until 5 a.m. It would mean that most residents could not leave their properties during that time.
Police departments across Quebec issued dozens of $1,550 fines as the province’s curfew, which aims to reduce the number of COVID-19 cases, went into effect Saturday night.
In Montreal, the provisional count of infractions stood at 17 after a group of people were ticketed for protesting near the Mont-Royal métro station, said police spokesperson Caroline Chèvrefils.
On Saturday evening, dozens of videos of Quebec police enforcing the curfew emerged on social media.
Montreal, known for its vibrant, colourful nightlife, will be off limits to those hoping to take a late-night stroll for the next 4 weeks. Unless, of course, they have a dog with them.
There’s no getting around it — lockdown measures don’t seem to be working in Ontario and Quebec the second time around.
Health experts say Canada’s hardest-hit provinces have consistently failed to contain the spread of COVID-19 with inadequate, poorly timed restrictions, leaving little choice but for much more draconian rules to be introduced.
But where exactly did we go wrong? And where do we go from here?
Government should address sites of outbreaks instead of stripping away freedoms, Ligue des droits says.
