Charges dropped against West Lincoln, Ont.’s former mayor, related to 2021 pandemic measures protest | CBC News

Charges of failing to comply with Ontario pandemic orders in 2021 have been dropped against a former West Lincoln mayor after his lawyer said he had donated to a women’s shelter. 

Dave Bylsma faced one count of failing to comply with an order under the Emergency Management and Civil Protection Act and another with failing to comply with an order under the Reopening Ontario Act. Both pieces of legislation included restrictions aimed at reducing the spread of COVID-19.

Court documents listed the offence date as April 10, 2021, the same day the then mayor spoke at a protest against public health measures in St. Catharines. 

At the time, CBC Hamilton reported Bylsma was voted off the township’s emergency operations committee following the protest.

Bylsma said back then that he felt “action” was needed to protest restrictions and he wanted to raise concerns about their impact on mental health and small businesses.

“I’ll be judged for my actions, but I think it provided an encouragement for people,” he told CBC Hamilton.

When Bylsma took part in the protest, Ontario was under a stay-at-home order limiting outdoor gatherings to five people.

In the October 2022 municipal elections, Bylsma lost his bid for another term as mayor, with Cheryl Ganann taking the position. 

Ex-mayor’s donation went to Niagara shelter, prosecution says

At provincial offences court in Welland last week, the prosecution told Justice of the Peace Charles Kissi that it had received confirmation Bylsma donated to Women’s Place of South Niagara and would therefore request that charges be withdrawn.

The prosecution did not give the donation amount. CBC Hamilton heard a recording of the hearing.

Bylsma’s legal counsel was Adam Blake-Gallipeau, listed as lawyer for The Democracy Fund. The organization’s website says it has also represented several other people charged in relation to protests against pandemic public health measures. 

CBC Hamilton requested comment from Blake-Gallipeau about the charges against Bylsma being dropped, but did not receive a response before publication time. 

CBC Hamilton asked the Ministry of the Attorney General about the circumstances that allow for negotiated deals, and how common or uncommon they are. A ministry spokesperson said they would be unable to respond before deadline.