Ontario councillor taking part in anti-mandate protests attends meeting virtually from Ottawa

When West Lincoln councillor Harold Jonker attended a committee meeting online Monday evening, he wasn't in the Niagara-area township in Ontario that elected him. He was more than 500 kilometres away, in Ottawa.

Jonker has been taking part in the occupation of some streets around Parliament Hill since it began on Jan. 28.

He's still there and said he's resolved to stay, even as Ottawa police served notice to protesters who remained there Wednesday afternoon that they "will face severe penalties" if they do not "cease further unlawful activity" and remove their vehicles.

While politicians at various levels are "winking and nudging" to show their support of the protests, a professor whose research focused on local government said he wasn't aware of any other elected officials actively taking part to this extent and that Jonker's participation could have political consequences.

However, the councillor said his role in the protest, which has now stretched on for three weeks and resulted in all three levels of governments declaring a state of emergency, has not affected his ability to fulfil his council duties.

"I'm really busy with the convoy during the day, but I have time at night to attend meetings," he said. 

Jonker, who is an owner of Jonker Trucking Inc. and claims he and his wife were in the first truck to arrive in Ottawa, told CBC late Wednesday afternoon he plans to remain in the city. 

"Mr. Trudeau you can freeze my accounts. You're not harming me, you're harming my 13 children, my dog Dash, my cat Comet and my 15 chickens," Jonker said, referring to directive the federal government has given financial institutions as part of the powers granted under the Emergencies Act. 

Jonker has missed some meetings related to his role on council since joining the convoy.

The clerk for the township confirmed in an email to CBC that Jonker has missed two committee meetings, a special council meeting and a council meeting before attending the meeting virtually on Monday.

At least one of his council colleagues has taken issue with his absence.

In a series of tweets on Feb. 11, Ward 3 councillor William Reilly said Jonker had missed several meetings and said he should consider resigning.

"I call on [Jonker] to either resign his seat if he's going to con't to neglect his municipal responsibilities or to resume representing the residents of ward 2 at Council," he wrote.

Ontario's Municipal Act dictates that a councillor's seat can become vacant if they miss meetings for three months in a row, without permission from council.