Independent MPP Randy Hillier will not seek re-election

Ontario PC MPP Randy Hillier scrums with reporters following the Throne Speech at the Ontario Legislature in Toronto on Monday, March 19, 2018. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chris Young

An independent MPP who has spoken out against COVID-19 vaccine mandates and other public health measures during the two year pandemic will not be seeking re-election in June's provincial election.

Lanark-Frontenac-Kingston MPP Randy Hillier announced on Facebook he will leave provincial politics after 15 years at Queen's Park.

"I've got an important message for today; a message that will be greeted with sadness by some and that will be greeted with glee by others," Hillier said in the statement Thursday evening. "In fact, it will be much like what's happened to our society these days where we live in a very polarized society. People are either right or wrong, there's no in between, there is no room for discussion or nuance."

Hillier's announcement comes one week after the Ontario legislature unanimously passed a motion authorizing the Speaker to prevent Hillier from participating in the chamber.  The motion moved by Government House Leader Paul Calandra said the house expresses its disapproval of Hillier's "continued disreputable conduct."

Hillier has frequently posted COVID-19 misinformation and conspiracy theories throughout the pandemic. In April 2021, Hillier was charged under the Reopening Ontario Act for attending an illegal gathering at an establishment in Kemptville, Ont.

Recently, the MPP attended the "Freedom Convoy" demonstration in downtown Ottawa.

"In the last few years, especially since I came out opposing the narrative that we were living in the most dangerous times of COVID, that warranted the destruction of representative democracy, warranted states of emergencies and the suspension of civil liberties, the trampling of our Charter protested rights and freedoms, I've been offside with public opinion," Hillier said in the Facebook video.

"Many people in the public clamoured and encouraged our governments to take these excessive measures to allay their fears, to allay the anxiety. We have, in effect, been ruled by the mob for the last couple of years and I don't see that ending anytime soon."

Hillier noted he has been "condemned" by municipal councils in his riding because he "dared have a different view" during the COVID-19 pandemic.

"A view that the virus did not require us to trample our Charter of Rights and Freedoms, did not require us to close up our businesses, our schools, our health care, that these were all unnecessary and the facts and evidence have born this out," Hillier said.

"Every measure that we've taken has had limited or no effect, beneficial effect, on the spread of the virus."

In November, Hillier apologized for a social media post in which he used names and photos of people who had died to suggest without evidence that they had died due to COVID-19 vaccination.  Hillier previously violated mask rules at the legislature, trying to enter the members' lobby to vote wearing a face shield instead.

Hillier was first elected as a Progressive Conservative MPP for Lanark-Frontenac-Kingston in 2007. He was re-elected in 2011, 2014 and 2018. During the 2018 provincial election, Hillier won the riding of Lanark-Frontenac-Kingston with 52 per cent of the vote. 

In 2019, Hillier was suspended from the PC caucus by Premier Doug Ford after making what the premier called "disrespectful" comments to parents of kids with autism. Hillier was later expelled from the caucus.

"Our political system is broken, there is no sense spending any more time trying to fix a broken system from within, when the problem lies without," Hillier said during the Facebook video, noting other elected officials are "fearful" of speaking out against governments during the pandemic.

"I'll continue to be outspoken, and I'll continue to be a voice for freedom."

WIth files from The Canadian Press