Lawyer says charge withdrawn for Ontario doctor who squirted ketchup on MP’s office
Global News
An Ontario Doctor who was arrested for squirting ketchup on an MP's office is having his charges dropped, according to his lawyer.
Lawyers for a doctor who was arrested after squirting ketchup on the London, Ont., office of a member of Parliament last year say the charge against him has been dropped.
The lawyers representing Tarek Loubani, a local physician and activist, say the Crown withdrew the mischief charge after determining it was “not in the public interest” to proceed with the prosecution.
Arash Ghiassi and Riaz Sayani say in a statement that Loubani’s actions were not a crime but rather part of his constitutional right to protest against an elected official — in this case, Liberal MP Peter Fragiskatos.
Loubani was arrested in November 2023, but the incident took place weeks earlier after a protest in downtown London.
Police said at the time that Loubani and three others went to an office on Hyman Street, where he squirted ketchup on the door and front of a building.
In their statement Tuesday, Loubani’s lawyers said police’s “heavy-handed approach to political protest in this case” is only one example of a broader response to pro-Palestinian demonstrations.
“This kind of expression has been criminalized in nearly 100 cases in Toronto alone, and many more across Canada. While many of these charges are eventually withdrawn, this systemic overcharging nevertheless chills legitimate political expression on pressing issues,” they said.
Fragiskatos did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Though it may seem like a sheen of Swift is coating the city of Toronto, only some of the hoopla can really be counted as 'Taylor's Version.'
Catch the fourth and final supermoon of the year, the beaver moon, this Friday as it lights up the night sky, marking 2024's celestial finale.
Two newly elected BC Green MLAs will officially take their seats in the legislature following the first of three swearing-in ceremonies after last month's provincial election.
Winnipeg organizations like Wahbung Abinoonjiiag and Main Street Project are stepping up to help, but people who help others need support too.
A flyer shared with Regina residents ahead of the municipal election is sparking debate on endorsements, as some candidates feel they’ve been misrepresented in what they stand for.
The Southern Chiefs Organization, Business Council of Manitoba, and provincial government, are setting aside $450,000 to help Indigenous students become health care professionals.
An Ontario Doctor who was arrested for squirting ketchup on an MP's office is having his charges dropped, according to his lawyer.
Droits collectifs Québec says the registrar's decision to remove the rulings doesn't resolve the issues it raised, so it will continue to seek a Federal Court ruling.
Horgan has been in the hospital for much of the past five months after being diagnosed with thyroid cancer in June. He was serving as Canada’s ambassador to Germany.
New Brunswick's premier says her newly elected Liberal government will draft a carbon pricing plan that will be submitted for Ottawa's approval.
Ontario Premier Doug Ford said Mexico "shouldn't have a seat at the table" in upcoming North American free trade talks if it doesn't match tariffs on Chinese imports.