According to court records, the criminal charge of disobeying a court order against local entrepreneur and anti-lockdown advocate Alexandra Stewart has been withdrawn at the request of the Crown.
Stewart's lawyer, Antoine d'Ailly confirms after Crown pre-trial discussions earlier this year assessing the merits of the matter, the assigned prosecutor arrived at the conclusion that there was no longer a public interest in continuing with this prosecution of his client.
Last spring, the North Bay Parry Sound District Health Unit requested the Superior Court of Justice issue a restraining order against Stewart, owner and operator of Stewart’s Decorating, saying public health inspections showed Stewart had not complied with its order regarding her Regina Street business. The Health Unit said the restraining order was intended to compel Stewart's to operate as a curbside-only business, as stipulated in the stay-at-home order and the Reopening Ontario Act.
See related: Stewart’s Decorating ordered closed by Health Unit for COVID non-compliance
This came in the midst of a provincial shutdown with restrictions on businesses and a stay-at-home order in effect. Non-essential retail stores were only permitted to open for curbside pickup at the time. The Health Unit cited Stewart's non-compliance regarding Medical Officer of Health Dr. Jim Chirico's Section 22 Order under section 102 of the Health Protection and Promotion Act to the court.
See also: Local anti-lockdown advocate receives a Restraining Order from Superior Court of Justice
The restraining order was granted on May 21, 2021. Court records show Stewart was charged on May 27, 2021, with "disobeying the lawful order made by Judge M. G. Ellies of the Ontario Superior Court of Justice on May 21st, 2021, that the Respondent shall close to the public the premises known as Stewart's Decorating, located at 1370 Regina Street, North Bay, Ontario, contrary to Section 127 of the Criminal Code."
The restraining order Stewart was charged with disobeying was soon after vacated by Judge Ellies, on June 11, 2021.
Beyond the withdrawn criminal charge, there are remaining associated issues, according to d'Ailly but they have to do with costs and damages suffered by his client and Stewart’s Decorating. The matter is set to return to court on June 30.
And: Stewart's Decorating owner vows to fight Health Unit action
"People know that not only do lockdowns not work, they are extremely harmful and the collateral damage from them is devastating," said Stewart last May when charged. "The impact the lockdowns are having on small businesses is disastrous. Every week I have small business owners calling me in distress. As a community, we need to work together to help these people and find a more balanced approach to the problems we are facing."
