'USE LETHAL FORCE': Failed city council candidate calls for the killing of convoy protesters

A former city council candidate for St. Catherines, Ont., has called for the violent removal of the truckers' protest from the Ambassador Bridge, linking Windsor, Ont., with Detroit, Mich. "REMOVE THEM NOW! USE LETHAL FORCE" he posted to Twitter.

Responses to the tweet noted that in fact there are children among the protesters who are there with their parents, staying in the cabs of the big rigs that are staging this action as a means to call for an end to vaccine mandates across the country. Gill has said that he was a "Community liaison for Toronto Police."

Gill hosted a poll, as well, asking if people think that police should take violent action to end "the terrorism in Ottawa." After a final poll sample of 408 votes, he determined that "70% of Canadians" are in favor of using violence against the peaceful protesters blockading the capital city.

Gill's advocacy for physical violence against the protesters is not the only way he has sought an end to the protests, with the result of the truckers being forced out. He has also stated that "It sure would be funny if no one could access @GiveSendGo," which has come under hacking attacks after it began hosting a fundraiser for the truckers' Freedom Convoy.

GiveSendGo took up the fundraiser after GoFundMe, a different crowdsourcing site, removed the Freedom Convoy page from their platform and announced they'd return funds to those who had donated following backlash.

Gill has his own GoFundMe active on the site. He alleged that he was "struck by a very angry man in a Dodge pickup truck" while he was on his way to pick up his husband from work in Niagara Falls. When the two attempted to exchange insurance information, Gill charged that the man assaulted him and "smashed [his head] into the snow-covered pavement." The man allegedly continued to strike him.

Gill posited that this could have been "a targeted attack" or "hate motivated." The man was arrested at the scene and charges of assault were laid. Gill suffered injuries to his "neck, ear, face, wrist, and a likely concussion," he said on his GodFundMe page, and indicated that he is "facing a long recovery." He is seeking to raise $15,000.

In 2018, Gill issued a tweet that earned him a caution from the police, after encouraging followers on Twitter to protest a lawmaker's parents. Gill posted information sharing the home address of provincial lawmaker Sam Oosterhoff's parents.

Police issued a statement that said "an officer went to the person's home to 'caution them regarding sharing personal information on social media which could be perceived as harassing,'" The National Post reported. "With the prevalence of social media," the statement continued, "when possible, our officers inform and educate the public on what could be potentially deemed criminal in nature."

The National Post reported at the time that Gill said he had "no regrets about the post and said it was police — not him — who overstepped their bounds by coming to his home." Gill had also said "he 'couldn’t wait to bring a big #GAY #Pride protest' to Oosterhoff's 'office, family events, wedding, etc'." This after Oosterhoff had shared pictures from a Christmas party he attended with social conservative and evangelical Charles McVety, president of the Canada Christian College.

Gill posted about the police visit on his Twitter, but he later deleted the tweet.

Gill has since locked his account.

The Toronto Police have been reached for comment.