Chapter 10: Lockdown 3 & 4: This time it will work!
Canada's Covid Tyrants - Book 2 - Occupation
Previous: Chapter 9: Reprieve Part Two
Chapter 10: Lockdown 3 & 4: This time it will work!
Churches (and other religious institutions) jumped through hoops all covid. Starting with streamed church and no in person attendance. Or eventually when the numbers went down during the summer most churches were graciously allowed to open again at reduced capacity in June.3 This capacity constantly changed at the whims of the petty tyrant from 10 to 504 regardless of the size of the business or church (this applied to gyms and other facilities). Churches meekly acquiesced to these dictates over the summer when there were zero cases in most of Ontario. Autumn arrived and cases rose. The government placed limits on the number of people able to go to church through Christmas. When the government left the coloured system and locked everything (except their pay checks) down.
On February 8th, 2021, after the Christmas lockdown, the government changed the rules again to allow for 25% or 50% capacity for “non-essential” facilities.6 What is non-essential? No one knows. Of course, all government operated businesses selling liquor, weed and cigarettes were listed as essential. Costco and Loblaws opened no matter what! For all the talk of the “return to normal” there was no pathway to return to normal. The hysteria was addictive. Regions in Ontario that were in the green zone still had restrictions even if they had few cases. Instead of limiting NPIs, they became first and consistent technique despite negative consequences and no proven effectiveness.
March 2021, students had been back in classes across Ontario and Canada with crazy restrictions for nearly an entire year. When cases went up to an arbitrary too high amount in person, wintertime, schools were shut down and everyone was moved back online. In the spring cases were on a downward trend, and students were back in person. Even with lower cases a new fear was developed in the propaganda labs. Variants! Variant fears along with corrupt and false models were used in the lead up to Easter. The vaccine roll out had been sub-optimal as the federal government struggled to secure a supply line.1 When the vaccine roll out did begin there were many progressives demanding that because of ‘systemic racism’ black persons and other ethnic minorities should be put at the front of the line for the vaccine, rather than the most vulnerable people. And unfortunately, some compromised politicians, Hamilton, Ontario, as an example,2 agreed and revert to race based policies influenced by the neo-racists
.
When questioned about the efficacy and problems that followed the myopic covid lockdowns On March 16th.7 Ford declared, “No politician in this country is going to disagree with their chief medical adviser, they might as well throw a rope around their neck and jump off a bridge. They’re done.” Calls for the resignation of the chief doctors rang out across Canada falling on dead ears. The Chief Doctors were incompetence and willing to sacrifice everything to “just save one life.” Ford failed as a Premier. Instead of taking economic, physical, and other factors into account he allowed myopic, “save the healthcare system” to dictate all policies.
Churches opened again to a specific percentage that applied to their region. But as Easter week began and Ford had nightmares of faithful Christians praising God and not himself or ScienceTM. Ford suddenly called for more measures and to leave the colour lockdown system again. On March 30th, 2021, Ford, his office, leaked plans for further lockdowns saying, “Don't make plans for Easter.” citing rising covid cases and hospitalizations.7 When this news broke restaurants and businesses were rightfully outraged as just a week earlier Ford had promised to open. Restaurants bought food to restock. Much of this went to waste and put another nail in many businesses who demanded Ford pay for their losses.8 Why would Ford care? Let them eat cheesecake. The lockdown began on Holy Saturday (April 3rd) and was set to continue for “four weeks” thereby ‘canceling’ Easter for a second year in a row. Odd that the lockdowns always seemed to come right on Christian holidays. Likely Ford did not wish for people to hear: “So, do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand”. (Isaiah 41:10) or “Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me” (Psalm 23:4). Or perhaps the notion that he is risen irks the death cult that clings to life so desperately they extinguished everything that it means to be a human.
Of course, none of these policies were enough. The new lockdown that made a blanket ban on almost everything did not work to end covid. Ford and his advisors scrambled to find something that had not been taken away yet. The government declared, just two-weeks later, on April 17, 2021, more lockdowns! This new and improved lockdown banned on basketball, tennis, playgrounds, sports parks and buying “non-essential” items at stores.12 Like Manitoba’s failed covid policies.13 Worse, and more troubling, the new police powers that the government decreed. Stating that police had the ability to stop anyone for any reason and ask for ID or to find out where they are going (to determine if the citizen was violating the stay-at-home order).14
Public backlash to these careless and arbitrary rules was swift. Parents were furious at closures of parks. The public at large were disgusted by the police state powers that the government decreed. Regional police forces began to release statements refusing to randomly stop individuals under the new enforcement powers. Some police forces did not refuse to enforce (notably the Ontario Provincial Police, OPP, who later set up boarder checkpoints between Ontario and Quebec and Manitoba). The vast majority of local municipal police did refuse,15 causing the Ontario government to walk back their arbitrary rules.
Doug Ford had a press conference on April 22, 2021, to explain that his policy directives were “going too fast” and “Simply, we got it wrong. We made a mistake”.16 This apology was accompanied by relaxing of rules around playgrounds and a few other activities. But this PR stunt did not stop the OPP from continuing to enforce these arbitrary rules that were a “mistake”. Rather they these rules remained in place. Further, activities such as basketball, tennis and other outdoor recreation remained lockdown despite there being no evidence of spread from these activities. As mentioned previously with the GraceLife church, the court granted AHS more time to prepare a case for violating charter rights (after 13 months of time).
Every official when asked at municipal, provincial and federal level had zero information on spread of covid from churches, basketball courts, tennis courts or schools. Toronto police saw fit to scare children by threatening them and their parents for playing basketball on hot May (2021) days outside. At what point will Toronto police apologize for this behaviour?20 Some municipalities noticed that their supreme dictates were not being followed by children. With only TikTok dances to occupy these SEVERELY busy bureaucrats’ time, municipalities sent goon squads out to put wooden boards over the nets,21 or take down nets and rope off playgrounds.22 Politicians and Public Health continued to obfuscate when asked why they continued to follow the lockdown emergency for a disease with a death rate of 0.05% with no evidence of the policies effectiveness.
Following April 17th, many Canadians came to recognize how far we had come. No longer ruled by elected officials these empty suits decided to abdicate responsibility and authority to political careerist doctors/scientists that presented no evidence other than CASES and Hospitalizations to justify arbitrary actions. Sadly, most Canadians needed someone else to lead. Canadians need to learn that change starts at home. It starts with improving yourself and your community. NO covid policies would have been possible without completely cuckold local governments. Some tore the playground ropes down the next day. Some tore them down weeks or months later. Some torn down the wooden planks. Others did not. If everyone came out with their kids to play at the parks the mandate would have been over immediately. The best anti-covid policy phrase, “It stops when, you say NO.”
When I personally attempted to get some accountability from my own MPP he brushed aside my concerns with a quick, “Well, he apologized!” Premier Ford’s apology was enough to justify the continued arbitrary rules and tyranny (note the apology did not magically remove the rules). To change gears from this public policy failure, since freedom was not a policy worthy of Canadians, paid sick leave expansions were dangled like a carrot.17 Sadly, many journalists took this bait as a good bribe to change the subject ignoring the continued measures that Ford himself called wrong and mistaken. Since the backlash to the new police powers and new stay at home order was bipartisan it was time for bribing and wedge politicking.
Having ruined his esteem in the eyes of conservatives, Red Tory Ford decided he would win on the liberal and progressive vote. The one problem for every progressive conservative when they jerk left for votes is they forget that progressives hate them. To a progressive a Red Tory is nothing but a useful court jester that should lose valiantly. The idea of voting for a progressive conservative over a liberal or NDP is a joke that Erin O’Toole, Monte McNaughton, Peter McKay, Andrew Scheer, Patrick Brown, and Doug Ford tell themselves when they betray their base. At least the propaganda media loves you right guys!
Our doctor overlords, tyrant kings and benevolent scientist truly know best and I’m sure after 4 weeks the government will lift all the measures, and we can go back to normal. What was it 4 weeks to flatten the curve?
But no, I am mistaken as flattening the curve was scrubbed from all government and public health messaging. Instead, it was “Stay safe, stay home” or “Prevent the spread” and lately in 2021 the shift went to “Covid-zero”.18 It fell on deaf ears to try to explain to politicians the problems of diminished returns and the stupidity of ‘covid-zero’, especially with our economy collapsing and supply lines strained. No, printing money has worked before, and it will work again. Further, these are the same officials that will pretend that herd immunity and acquired immunity do not exist while they urged everyone to get vaccines. It is, however, the logical conclusion of the idea “if we can just save one life.” Damn the body count; utopia is only one more body away.
Niagara SOS
Premier Ford and his thugs moved to lockdown the province in a stay-at-home order for a month (that turned into 2 months and possibly more) the general backlash was intense. The rest of the world was, for the most part leaving lockdowns. Even democratic states in the US (facing recall, lawsuits, and other pressures) eased up. But the ScienceTM was in and remained unchanged for Ford and his doctors. “Stay home or else!” Although police powers were ‘rolled back’-ish and playgrounds were opened. A child was forced to wear masks even though transmission outdoors is less than 0.7% and kids are basically unaffected. Ontario had one of the stupidest and most oppressive lockdowns in the western world. When asked the politicians and Public Health proclaimed Ontarians should be glad that we get playgrounds! “I mean come on we apologized!” Piss off and back to y wedge issues. Honestly, Ontarians should thank these self-less politicians for their generosity!
Some ungrateful protestors assembled on the eve of the shutdown and raise an upside-down Canadian flag and signalled Morse code. Using a powerful flashlight, they signaled S.O.S across the falls to the American side.19 The government, to prove their point, investigated and attempted to fine all those involved in this protest. A tyrant has no sense of humour. Nor proportionality.
Next: Chapter 11: Police State and Covid Protests
Chapter 10: Lockdown 3 & 4: This time it will work!
1. Wherry A. (2021, Jan 27). Canadian politicians struggle to come to grips with the global vaccine race/ CBC News. Retrieved from https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/federal-leaders-vaccine-supply-struggles-1.5890339
2. City of Hamilton. (2021, April 24). Twitter. Retrieved from
https://twitter.com/cityofhamilton/status/1386030892007706629
3. Patton J. (2020, Jun 8). Ontario reopening Stage 2: Groups of 10 allowed, places of worship to reopen amid coronavirus pandemic. Global News. Retrieved from https://globalnews.ca/news/7039293/ontario-reopening-phase-2-coronavirus/
4. Rocca R. (2020, July 14). Ontario reopening Stage 3: Gathering limit increasing as indoor dining, gyms permitted to reopen. Global News. Retrieved from https://globalnews.ca/news/7169242/ontario-coronavirus-stage-3-reopening-plan/
5. Tsekouras P. (2020, Nov 11). As Toronto enters the COVID-19 red zone here's what you need to know. CTV News. Retrieved from https://toronto.ctvnews.ca/as-toronto-enters-the-covid-19-red-zone-here-s-what-you-need-to-know-1.5184225
6. CBC News. (2021, Feb 8). Ontario will let more businesses reopen, gradually lift stay-at-home orders. CBC News. Retrieved from https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/covid-19-ontario-february-8-2021-reopening-ford-1.5905213
7. Lilley B. (2021, March 17). LILLEY: End the doctatorship, elected politicians must be in charge. Toronto Sun. Retrieved from https://torontosun.com/opinion/columnists/lilley-end-the-doctatorship-elected-politicians-must-be-in-charge
8. CBC News. (2021, March 30) 'Don't make plans for Easter': Ford hints at restrictions as Ontario sees 2,336 new COVID-19 cases. CBC. News. Retrieved from https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/covid-19-ontario-march-30-2021-vaccine-update-1.5969379
9. The Canadian Press. (2021, April 1). Restaurateurs angry, fearful as Ontario locks down. Toronto. Retrieved from https://www.toronto.com/news-story/10364884-restaurateurs-angry-fearful-as-ontario-locks-down/
10. Fox. J. (2021, April 3). Ontario back on lockdown for Easter. The Ledger. Retrieved from https://www.theledger.com/story/news/nation-world/2021/04/03/ontario-lockdown-easter/7074984002/
11. Ford D. (2021, April 16). Ontario Strengthens Enforcement of Stay-at-Home Order. Government of Ontario. Retrieved from https://news.ontario.ca/en/release/61192/ontario-strengthens-enforcement-of-stay-at-home-order
12. Staff. (2021, April 16). This is the list of new restrictions in Ontario under the revised stay-at-home order. BlogTO. Retrieved from https://www.blogto.com/city/2021/04/list-new-restrictions-ontario-stay-at-home-order/
13. MacLean C. (2020, Nov 20). 'Can I still shop for baby clothes in Manitoba?' and other COVID-19 restrictions questions answered. CBC News. Retrieved from https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manitoba/manitoba-covid-19-restrictions-frequently-asked-questions-1.5810750
14. CityNews. (2021, April 17). Ontario walks back new police powers following backlash. CityNews. Retrieved from https://www.citynews1130.com/2021/04/17/ontario-police-powers-covid/
15. The Canadian Press. (2021, April 17). Many Ontario police forces refuse power under new COVID-19 orders to enforce random stops. National Post. Retrieved from https://nationalpost.com/news/ontarians-waking-up-to-tough-new-pandemic-restrictions
16. Tsekouras P. (2021, April 22). 'We got it wrong': Doug Ford apologizes for some of Ontario's enhanced public health measures. CTV News. Retrieved from https://toronto.ctvnews.ca/we-got-it-wrong-doug-ford-apologizes-for-some-of-ontario-s-enhanced-public-health-measures-1.5397661
17. Nasser S., Powers L. (2021, April 28). Ontario details plan for 3 paid sick days after a year of mounting pressure. CBC News. Retrieved from https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/ontario-paid-sick-leave-covid-19-april-28-2021-1.6005192
18. Zuber M. C. (2020, Nov 17). Experts call for #COVIDzero strategy to weed out virus, but will it work? CBC News. Retrieved from https://www.cbc.ca/news/health/covid-zero-1.5805788
19. Barkoukis L. (2021, April 22). Police Went After the Canadians Who Signaled SOS Across Border Over Draconian Lockdown Orders. Townhall. Retrieved from https://townhall.com/tipsheet/leahbarkoukis/2021/04/22/canadian-protesters-hit-with-criminal-charges-n2588399
20. O’Connor R. (2021, May 16). Twitter. Retrieved from
https://twitter.com/rpoconnor/status/1393945924838248456
21. Warmington J. (2021, May 1). WARMINGTON: Good luck sinking baskets off this Mississauga hoop's backboard. Toronto Sun. Retrieved from https://torontosun.com/news/local-news/warmington-good-luck-sinking-baskets-off-this-mississauga-hoops-backboard
22. Cain P. (2020, July 15). Closed playgrounds can open safely, experts say. Here’s why. Global News. Retrieved from https://globalnews.ca/news/7173943/closed-playgrounds-can-open-experts-coronavirus/