Video posted online by Ontario police officer supporting 'Freedom Rally' being looked into
A video posted on social media by an Ontario police officer, who says she feels people are at war for their freedoms, is being looked into by a regional police force.
Durham Regional Police said Monday they are aware of a video posted by Constable Erin Howard, where in uniform she shares her support for people who are protesting against vaccine mandates for truck drivers crossing the Canada-U.S. border.
The protest has been dubbed the "Freedom Rally," and is a series of coordinated gatherings of truck drivers who are against the vaccine mandate.
The convoy of truck drivers left B.C. on Sunday and will travel east, stopping in major cities, including Toronto, Windsor, Kingston and Ottawa.
“Right now, it feels like we’re at war and those rights and freedoms are at stake,” Howard said in the video. “You guys are honestly true heroes, what you are doing is incredible.”
Howard said she is part of a group called “Police On Guard” that is suing to stop the enforcement of COVID-19 measures. She said she will be speaking at an event in Ottawa on the weekend when the truck drivers arrive.
Durham police Constable George Tudos told CTV News Toronto on Monday the video does not depict the views of the police force.
“We were made aware of a video that’s circulating on social media depicting one of our officers,” Tudos said.
Tudos said Durham police’s code of conduct restricts the use of police property and influence to only official duties, and that doesn’t include making private political statements.
Durham Regional Police Constable Erin Howard is shown in this still image taken from a social media video.
It’s not necessarily the content of Howard’s video that could be a violation of the rules, Tudos said, but the fact it was recorded while she was in uniform.
CTV News Toronto attempted to contact Howard but did not receive a response.
Most of Canada’s 160,000 truck drivers are vaccinated, but an estimated 12,000 are not. The drivers in the convoy argue that the vaccine mandate could disrupt the food supply chain.
The Canadian Trucking Alliance is distancing themselves from the protest, saying the industry must adapt because the rules won’t change.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
NDP motion regarding Palestinian statehood passes after major Liberal alterations
A motion from the federal New Democrats initially calling on Canada to recognize the 'State of Palestine' passed amid widespread acrimony on Monday, after the Liberals drastically altered its wording to see the government simply work towards that aim as part of a two-state solution.
'He didn't want to die': Family of Calgary man killed in standoff speaks out
Family of a Calgary man killed after a 30-hour standoff with police last week are speaking out, sharing details of the tense and heart-wrenching experience.
Toronto family doctor who called patient's body 'perfect' suspended for 3 months: tribunal
A family doctor in Toronto has been suspended for three months after a disciplinary tribunal found that he failed to follow proper protocols while examining a patient's breasts and made inappropriate comments about her body.
Ohio mom who left toddler alone 10 days when she went on vacation pleads guilty to aggravated murder
An Ohio mother whose 16-month-old daughter died after being left home alone in a playpen for 10 days last summer while she went on vacation was sentenced Monday to life in prison with no chance of parole.
Retired teacher pleads guilty to paying for sex with 15-year-old in Collingwood, Ont.
In a Barrie courtroom on Monday, a retired high school teacher from the Niagara Region pleaded guilty to sexual touching and obtaining sexual services from a 15-year-old boy in Collingwood in 2021.
Hertz CEO out following electric car 'horror show'
The company, which announced in January it was selling 20,000 of the electric vehicles in its fleet, or about a third of the EVs it owned, is now replacing the CEO who helped build up that fleet, giving it the company’s fifth boss in just four years.
5 charged in Calgary kidnappings that targeted women
Calgary police have charged five men in a pair of kidnappings last year that targeted innocent victims.
Demand soars for solar eclipse glasses in Canada. Are they worth buying?
The demand for total solar eclipse glasses used to safely view the rare celestial event has been ramping up as sellers, along with astronomy and eye-care experts in Canada, warn that viewing the eclipse with the naked eye is dangerous.
Canadian commander of volunteer fighter group dies in Ukraine
A Canadian-born commander of the so-called Norman Brigade, a volunteer fighting group in Ukraine, has died.