Kitchener gym challenging province on stay-at-home orders
Posted Jan 22, 2021 01:44:00 PM.
A Kitchener fitness club is taking the province to court over stay-at-home orders.
North X Fitness is looking for an exemption for gyms and fitness classes in Ontario, and a constitutional challenge was filed.
In court documents, it's argued the orders violate the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, and the Human Rights Code.
Ryan O'Connor, the lawyer for North X Fitness, said the ban is just simply unfair.
“Our clients aren't picking a fight with public health officials or the Science Table,” he said, “They want gyms and fitness facilities to reopen safely and in the same safe manner as those gyms which serve Olympians and your favourite NHLers – which have remained open throughout lockdown.”
Meantime, a GoFundMe campaign was launched to help pay for the costs of challenging the province.
The campaign page also expressed the ban was unfair.
“Gyms help preserve our mental and physical health, which is especially important nowadays and because we have fewer opportunities to be outside because of the winter weather,” it stated.
Proud to represent Kitchener gym @NorthXFitness and its owner Sascha King as they today filed a constitutional challenge to Ontario's gym and fitness class lockdowns and the provincial stay-at-home order.
— Ryan O'Connor (@rpoconnor) January 21, 2021
