D. Amyot

The applicant, a police officer, sought judicial review of an Ontario Civilian Police Commission decision upholding a finding of discreditable conduct and a penalty of 80 hours' forfeited pay.

The misconduct stemmed from a $50 anonymous donation the applicant made to the 'Freedom Convoy' protests while on unpaid leave.

The Divisional Court dismissed the application, finding it was reasonable for the Commission to conclude the protests were illegal and that the limitation on the applicant's freedom of expression was proportionate to the statutory objectives of maintaining effective policing.

The court also upheld the Commission's refusal to hear a new abuse of process argument on appeal.

The applicant, a police officer, sought judicial review of a decision by the Ontario Civilian Police Commission confirming his conviction for discreditable conduct and a nine-month demotion.

The applicant argued his guilty plea was invalid due to a panic attack and that his hearing counsel provided ineffective assistance by failing to file medical evidence at the penalty hearing.

The Divisional Court dismissed the application, finding the Commission reasonably concluded the guilty plea was voluntary and that counsel's tactical decision not to file the medical report in light of a joint submission on penalty did not constitute ineffective assistance.

The court also refused to admit supplemental affidavit evidence on judicial review.