All pandemic-related charges against Windsor pastor dropped
The Shops at Waterloo Town Square are seen on Tuesday, July 9, 2013.
All charges under the Reopening Ontario Act (ROA) against Windsor pastor, Aaron Rock, have been dropped.
According to a news release from the Justice Centre for Constitutional Freedoms (JCCF), the Crown stayed three of Rock’s charges on April 30 relating to a May 2021 protest in Waterloo, Ont.
“While it is unfortunate that Pastor Rock was ticketed in the first place, we are quite content that all his charges across three jurisdictions have now been either withdrawn or stayed,” Rock’s lawyer Chris Fleury said in the JCCF release.
Three other COVID-related charges were dropped earlier this year.
JCCF officials say Rock was charged after allegedly attending an outdoor protest on May 30, 2021 in Waterloo’s town square. A ‘stay at home order’ was in place in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
“After discussions with the Crown, it was agreed that charges would be stayed following a modest donation from Pastor Rock to a registered charity,” the news release states.
If Rock had been convicted of all his charges, the maximum fines would have been $300,000, JCCF said.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
PWHL Minnesota defeats Boston to win inaugural Walter Cup
Minnesota won the inaugural championship of the Professional Women’s Hockey League on Wednesday night, getting 17 saves from Nicole Hensley to beat Boston 3-0 in a winner-take-all Game 5 and claim the Walter Cup.
Canadians are eyeing moves to these cities for more affordable housing
Faced with elevated housing prices, half of Canadians in the country's largest cities are considering moving to places with more affordable housing.
B.C. mortgage broker ran $270-million Ponzi scheme, then fled Canada, bankruptcy trustee says
The trustee appointed to manage the bankruptcies of a Victoria mortgage company and its owner has concluded that they committed "numerous offences" and operated as a "massive Ponzi scheme."
Oilers rally to beat Stars, tie Western Conference Final
With the Edmonton Oilers down two goals late in the first period of Game 4, Rogers Place was quiet, fans seemingly bewildered at the early, quick scoring of the Dallas Stars and the slow start by the home team. Ryan McLeod's marker with six-and-a-half minutes in the opening frame left changed all that.
McDonald's says $18 Big Mac meal was an 'exception' and their prices haven't risen that much
McDonald’s is fighting back against viral tweets and media reports that it says have exaggerated its price increases.
'Targeted again': Montreal police investigate after gunshot fired at Jewish school
Police are investigating another building in Montreal's community was struck by gunfire.
Tessa Virtue reveals she's expecting her first child. Here's what Canadians had to say
Canadian figure-skating icon Tessa Virtue is expecting her first child, she revealed via social media Tuesday.
Poilievre says Canadians 'fleeing' to Nicaragua, Liberals say it shows he 'doesn't have a clue'
Liberal parliamentarians are criticizing Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre over a new video in which he promotes the idea that some Canadians are 'fleeing' Canada to live in Nicaragua because they can't afford a house in this country.
'Do not drive': Nissan warns Canadian drivers of explosion risk impacting 48,000 vehicles
Car manufacturer Nissan has issued a do-not-drive warning for some older vehicles equipped with Takata airbag inflators, due to the risk of explosion during a crash.
Shopping Trends
The Shopping Trends team is independent of the journalists at CTV News. We may earn a commission when you use our links to shop. Read about us.
Kitchener
-
St. Mary's High School closes due to 'threat of violence against school'
A Kitchener high school was shut down Wednesday due to a “threat of violence” and will also remain closed on Thursday.
-
Anger boils over as Stratford City Council meeting is cancelled early
Stratford residents shouted at the mayor and city councillors after Tuesday night's meeting ended before it even began.
-
81-year-old Waterloo, Ont. woman with paralysis, amputated leg lives out dream of riding horse again
An 81-year-old Waterloo, Ont. woman thought she’d never ride a horse again after a brain bleed led to severe physical complications.
London
-
PLAYOFF TRACKERPLAYOFF TRACKER London Knights beat Saginaw at Memorial Cup, advance to final
The London Knights clinched a spot in the Memorial Cup championship game Wednesday night, beating the tournament hosts 4-2 in the final game of the group stage.
-
Downtown collision sends 2 people to hospital
A collision in London’s downtown core has sent two people to hospital and shut down a busy intersection Wednesday afternoon.
-
Former Woodstock mayor outlines difficult relationship at sexual assault trial
The former mayor of Woodstock wrapped up his testimony at his sexual assault trial on Wednesday, continuing to say that he never did anything inappropriate with a woman that he had been seeing.
Barrie
-
Three injured in Oro-Medonte crash
Three people are in hospital after a crash in Oro-Medonte on Wednesday.
-
Barrie police locate missing 5-year-old boy
Barrie Police are trying to locate a 5-year-old boy who went missing on Wednesday.
-
Barrie Police Sgt. Bruce Gardiner's case heading toward potential resolution
Barrie Police Sergeant Bruce Gardiner, a nineteen-year member of the service, has been charged with criminal harassment and extortion, which police say occurred while he was off duty. On Wednesday, the case is heading toward a potential resolution.
Northern Ontario
-
Vicious dog attacks in northern Ont. leave two with serious wounds
A dog owner has been charged after two people riding bicycles in a community near Sault Ste. Marie were recently attacked by two dogs.
-
Electric battery facility to be built in Sudbury, creating hundreds of jobs
Wyloo Metals has a deal with Greater Sudbury for land to build a battery materials processing facility in the city.
-
Northern Ont. inquest hears events leading up to fatal police shooting
A coroner's inquest heard details this week of what led police to shoot and kill John-Paul ‘Jay’ George in 2020 in northern Ontario.
Sault Ste. Marie
-
Province funds clinic to ease looming health care crisis in Sault Ste. Marie
Patients at Sault Ste. Marie’s Group Health Centre who were to be de-rostered this week will soon be able to access a new nurse practitioner-led clinic.
-
Vicious dog attacks in northern Ont. leave two with serious wounds
A dog owner has been charged after two people riding bicycles in a community near Sault Ste. Marie were recently attacked by two dogs.
-
These are the worst roads in northern Ontario, CAA says
The annual Canadian Automobile Association’s worst roads list for 2024 is out and three of the five worst roads in the northern region are in North Bay.
Ottawa
-
Antiwar protesters call for inquiry into Canadian arms trade amid Israel-Hamas war
Protesters blocked traffic outside a major military industry trade show in Ottawa Wednesday morning before moving on to Parliament Hill to condemn the ongoing violence in Gaza and Canada's arms trade with Israel.
-
Garbage limits coming to a curbside near you
It is official — the city of Ottawa's new curbside garbage policy will come into effect this fall. City council gave the three-item garbage limit the rubber stamp on Wednesday. It will start on Sept. 30.
-
Barry's Bay, Ont. Beer Store to close June 16
The Beer Store in Barry's Bay, a crucial business to the small town in the Ottawa Valley, is set to close June 16.
Toronto
-
'Decades of neglect': MPP calls out Ontario education minister over flooding at west-end Toronto school
Toronto MPP Bhutila Karpoche used her umbrella to shield herself from heavy rain Monday morning when she walked over to a high school in her riding to speak with Grade 10 students. The last thing she expected was to need to use it inside.
-
RECAP: Highlights from the Mississauga mayoral debate
Some of the leading candidates vying to become Mississauga's new mayor are squaring off in a debate this evening.
-
Video shows driver frantically getting out of car being pushed by truck on Avenue Road
A CP24 camera caught the moment a driver frantically got out of her car as it was being dragged by a truck on Avenue Road Wednesday afternoon.
Montreal
-
'Targeted again': Montreal police investigate after gunshot fired at Jewish school
Police are investigating another building in Montreal's community was struck by gunfire.
-
Woman found with stab wounds in Laval forest has died, police say
Laval police say a woman was killed after she was found with stab wounds in a wooded area in the Chomedy district early Wednesday evening.
-
Police investigate after man shot near Lachine basketball court
Montreal police are investigating after a young man was shot in Lachine Wednesday afternoon.
Winnipeg
-
Manitoba promises new money for Winnipeg police to target retail theft, other issues
The Manitoba government is promising new money for Winnipeg police to combat rising fears over retail theft and other issues.
-
Birchwood Terrace residents on edge as support set to run out next month
After a shocking and abrupt evacuation, former residents of a St. James apartment building are facing a new hurdle.
-
How farmers feel about the summer weather predictions for Manitoba
Warmer-than-average temperatures are expected to blanket Manitoba for most of the summer, and while that may be good news for outdoor enthusiasts in the province, farmers are playing the wait-and-see approach for what it could mean for their crops.
Edmonton
-
Oilers rally to beat Stars, tie Western Conference Final
With the Edmonton Oilers down two goals late in the first period of Game 4, Rogers Place was quiet, fans seemingly bewildered at the early, quick scoring of the Dallas Stars and the slow start by the home team. Ryan McLeod's marker with six-and-a-half minutes in the opening frame left changed all that.
-
13-year-old boy killed in hit-and-run crash in Mill Woods: police
A 13-year-old boy on his bicycle was killed in a hit-and-run in south Edmonton Wednesday morning.
-
Spring sitting ends with passing of contentious bills granting province more power
A local political scientist is urging Albertans to "connect the dots" in what she says is "democratic backsliding" in the province.
Calgary
-
Glider pilot killed in southern Alberta crash
A well-regarded, experienced glider pilot and instructor from Calgary was killed Wednesday while competing at a national championship event near Diamond Valley, leaving his loved ones and the province's soaring community gutted.
-
Calgary police chief defends handling of pro-Palestinian protest at University of Calgary
Calgary’s police chief is defending the way officers handled a pro-Palestinian protest at the University of Calgary earlier this month.
-
Resident's loved one raises concerns about staffing at Colonel Belcher Carewest
This week, families and advocates have been sounding the alarm about a mental-health program at a Calgary long-term care home. But that's not the only safety concern at Colonel Belcher Carewest.
Regina
-
Despite MLA's claims, Sask. legislative security didn't know Jeremy Harrison was bringing gun to property
An email from 2016 detailing the day Jeremy Harrison reportedly brought a gun into the legislative building shows that security were unaware of the former Government House Leader's visit.
-
'He's made us increase our level of intensity': Riders' running backs learning from veteran A.J. Ouellette
Last season the Saskatchewan Roughriders' number one running back was Jamal Morrow, who is now a CFL free agent. This year the green and white have veteran A.J. Ouellete to lead the group.
-
Regina City Planning Commission approves controversial apartment build despite continued pushback
A proposed apartment development in Regina's Douglas Park neighbourhood has been granted approval from the City Planning Commission following a meeting Tuesday night that saw more pushback from area residents.
Vancouver
-
B.C. mortgage broker ran $270-million Ponzi scheme, then fled Canada, bankruptcy trustee says
The trustee appointed to manage the bankruptcies of a Victoria mortgage company and its owner has concluded that they committed "numerous offences" and operated as a "massive Ponzi scheme."
-
Lack of breast ultrasound clinics in B.C. could leave cancer undetected
Dr. Paula Gordon says her clinic on West Broadway receives 1,600 calls a day, the majority from patients looking for a screening breast ultrasound.
-
Remains identified, questions linger in Dawson Creek, B.C., where four went missing
When Renee Didier disappeared from Dawson Creek in northern British Columbia nearly six months ago, it was sudden and unexpected, her uncle said.
Vancouver Island
-
B.C. mortgage broker ran $270-million Ponzi scheme, then fled Canada, bankruptcy trustee says
The trustee appointed to manage the bankruptcies of a Victoria mortgage company and its owner has concluded that they committed "numerous offences" and operated as a "massive Ponzi scheme."
-
B.C. man to be extradited to U.S. on charges of sexually assaulting stepdaughter
A British Columbia man will be extradited to the United States, where he faces a possible life sentence if convicted of charges that he repeatedly sexually assaulted his stepdaughter, after losing his appeal of the extradition order Tuesday.
-
Vancouver rescue group takes in first seal pups of 2024
Two rescued harbour seal pups – now named Nelson and Gustav – are being rehabilitated in Vancouver, marking the start of a busy season for a local non-profit.
Atlantic
-
Cape Breton University student dies in major fire in India
A Cape Breton University student from India has been identified as one of the victims in a horrific fire in that country that has killed more than two dozen people.
-
Infant dies in ATV crash, N.S. RCMP says alcohol may be a factor
An infant has died and three others, including another child, were taken to hospital following an ATV crash in Forties, N.S., on Monday.
-
What weather experts say to expect this summer in Canada
Get ready to feel the heat, Canada. Weather experts are predicting more sunshine and warmer temperatures for the summer.
N.L.
-
With DNA break, police ID victim in decades-old Newfoundland case
A skull was found along a backroad near St. John's more than 20 years ago. Now, police have finally identified the victim of the homicide.
-
March in downtown St. John's honours first female Mounties
Celebrating the fiftieth anniversary of Troop 17 — the first class of women recruits on the national police force — the RCMP in Newfoundland and Labrador led a ceremonial march through a small part of downtown St. John’s on Tuesday afternoon.
-
Newfoundland man charged twice for drunk driving overnight in St. John's
The Royal Newfoundland Constabulary says a 23-year-old man was arrested for drunk driving on two separate occasions overnight.
