Tag Archives: MPP Randy Hillier

Opinion: Randy Hillier

Lanark–Frontenac–Kingston
Lanark–Frontenac–Kingston. Phohot credit: elections.ca

I am a voter in MPP Randy Hillier’s riding and I can honestly say that he no longer represents me, nor the hundreds of others waiting in a confusing line for a Covid-19 vaccine, nor those who have been laid low or have lost family members to the virus

MPP Hillier, I can’t complain to you about my concerns over the province’s slow rate of vaccination, never mind anything else having to do with the pandemic.

What happened to you? Many years ago I came to you for a property issue. You helped. You served me well.  You did what MPPS should be doing: serving their constituents. Who are you serving now with your shenanigans? Why are you alienating those in your riding?

I called you following the Kemptville restaurant anti-lockdown rally, after hearing a rumor that you’d caught Covid. You said “no,” you hadn’t contracted the virus. I asked whether you were wearing a mask. Again, no.

Then I asked why. That surprised me. “I have an exemption.” You wouldn’t say what the exemption was “for privacy reasons.”

Sorry Randy I don’t believe you. Several months ago I observed you walking into the Rideau Ferry Store, not wearing a mask. I asked why. You replied “I don’t believe in them” and then continued to walk into the store.

You can’t have it both ways Randy. Either you don’t believe in them or you have an exemption.

Now you’ve been charged by two municipalities, Kemptville and Peterborough, with contravening the province’s health lock-down  regulations and stay-at-home order, At Kemptville’s gathering you dragged your three children into your lair. Shame on you.

A third municipality, Belleville, is also considering charges after a rally there. As police chief Mike Callaghan says, “We cannot allow people to jeopardize others. It’s incredibly unfortunate that this happened.”

The chief’s words are tame to what others have said. I heard some who have called your self-aggrandizing antics clownish.

If you think of fighting all these charges using our Charter of Rights and Freedoms, consider the April ruling of the Federal Court, which refused to throw out the quarantine rules for international travellers returning home – three days required hotel stay in a government approved hotel.

Can you afford a Supreme Court challenge? 

As an independent MPP, kicked out of the Conservative caucus in 2019, I can’t believe you hope to be re-elected. You probably don’t.

Opinion piece by John Kessel

Smiths Falls council joins South Frontenac in condemning MPP Randy Hillier

Randy Hillier

During Monday night’s council meeting, Smiths Falls’ town council condemned the actions of Lanark-Frontenac-Kingston MPP Randy Hillier during the Covid-19 pandemic. Throughout the Covid-19 pandemic, our Member of Provincial Parliament has publicly shared his disregard for the precautions outlined by Ontario’s public health officials, in particular the requirement of wearing masks when social distancing is difficult. He has also expressed disdain for lockdowns and school closures. 

Smiths Falls’ town council received a letter from the town council of South Frontenac condemning Hillier’s actions and announcing that they do not support his position. Smiths Falls town council unanimously voted to pass a resolution in solidarity with South Frontenac. 

Councillor Christopher McGuire addressed the council: “This is an important resolution to pass to show our support for public health and everybody that’s making a sacrifice for the greater good during this time.  As Canadians we come together when we’ve got a challenge like this.

“We’re doing it because we don’t want to see our hospitals overwhelmed; we don’t want to see the 6-figure death-counts we’ve seen in [other] countries. What we’re doing right now is really important; it’s what defines us as a community, it’s really the backbone of everything we do. So by passing this resolution we’re making a firm stand; we’re standing with public health.”

Mayor Shawn Pankow added that he believes Hillier is part of a dissenting minority. “I don’t believe MPP HIllier speaks for the majority of people within our riding. I think the majority of people in Smiths Falls are doing everything they can to keep one another safe.

“Until recently, we felt we were doing quite well locally. In the course of the last couple of weeks we’ve seen the numbers rise. This is nothing we’ve ever planned for or anticipated in our lifetime, but because it’s on our doorstep and in our community, we have to do what we can to keep our community safe. I think we’re all disappointed with our MPP’s actions, and we need to do what we can to speak against that and speak for public health and what they’re doing to keep us safe.”

Councillor McGuire noted that constituents can and should make their opinions known at the polls. “These things don’t just happen out of the blue. We all need to be engaged, to know who we’re voting for.”

Article by Janelle Labelle

Lanark Highlands Councilor wants a shot at being provincial PC candidate

Bill King
Bill King. Photo submitted.

Bill King, a current municipal councilor for Lanark Highlands has thrown his name in the ring to become the provincial PC candidate for the Lanark Frontenac Kingston riding. While the local Progressive Conservative riding committee has not yet announced its selection date or process, King is the second person to give notice of his intent, the other being North Frontenac Mayor Ron Higgins. As current MPP Randy Hillier is now sitting as an independent, having been turfed from the PC caucus by Premier Doug Ford in 2019, this riding is without a PC candidate and will need to select one before the 2022 provincial election.

King brings a fair amount of experience to the table, having worked for a newly elected MPP, Mike Harris, starting shortly after his election in 1981 through to 1997. He also spent 6 years as a senior aide for the federal Conservatives in Ottawa. On top of his Lanark Highlands councilor duties, King is the chief of staff for federal Conservative MP Scott Aitchinson of Ontario’s Parry Sound Muskoka riding.

He told Hometown News the major issues facing Lanark Frontenac Kingston are the pandemic, (specifically protecting people from its health and economic risks), job creation and support for the vulnerable, and recovery on both the financial and health fronts, (looking forward to the approval and distribution of a safe vaccine).

When asked how he would connect with the wide variety of voters in a geographically large, but sparsely populated riding, his response was “one person at a time”. He added that since moving to this area 12 years ago, he has been very involved in a number of areas and he plans on using available communication technology to its full extent to learn about what constituents are being challenged by and how he can help.

When responding to the question of how he would balance his current workload with the additional tasks of running for a candidacy, he responded that as he loves all the work he’s currently involved in and has demonstrated his time management skills successfully to date, this doesn’t pose a problem. He told Hometown news he plans on bringing a positive voice and can-do attitude to this job, (if successful) as he has to everything else he’s tackled.

Article by Brain Turner