Hamilton MP apologizes after saying lockdowns are 'greatest' civil liberties breach since WWII internment

A Hamilton MP has apologized after tweeting there's "ABSOLUTELY NO evidence" lockdowns combat the spread of COVID-19 and that they represent the "single greatest breach of our Civil Liberties since the Internment Camps during WW2."

Conservative MP David Sweet, who represents Flamborough-Glanbrook, tweeted on Friday that there are papers "proving" lockdowns do not work, adding he was "saddened and appalled at my political colleagues silence."

In a follow-up post on Saturday, Sweet said his tweet about "freedom" in Ontario was an attempt to provide a timeline.

"In no way was I comparing today with the atrocities of war. For anyone offended I unequivocally apologize," he wrote.

Sweet's statements were made as variants of the virus continue to spread, with spiking hospitalizations bringing the number of patients in ICU's and on ventilators to new highs.

They're also contrary to federal modelling data, which suggests the strict regulations in provinces have slowed COVID-19.

"For the first time in many weeks, the epidemic has dropped out of a growth pattern," Dr. Theresa Tam, Canada's chief public health officer, said on Friday.

"We have reassurance that strengthened measures can slow growth where more contagious variants are circulating, but sustained measures and individual practices are the key to keeping growth down."

Sweet's comments were met with a flurry of critical comments online, including Hamilton's Ward 1 councillor Maureen Wilson, who described his original post as "appalling."

"Comparing safety measures recommended by every credible public health official in Canada to internment camps is grotesque," she continued. "This lunacy needs to be condemned unequivocally by all federal party leaders."

An email from CBC to Conservative Leader Erin O'Toole's office about Sweet's comments did not receive an immediate response.

Roughly 21,000 Japanese Canadians were detained starting in 1942 and interned for the rest of the Second World War, according to The Canadian Encyclopedia.

Watch: Canada apologizes for Japanese internment

Canadian government apologizes to Japanese Canadians for wartime internment

36 years ago

Duration 4:30

A formal apology and compensation package are offered to the Japanese Canadian community.

The men placed in the camps were often separated from their families and made to do physical labour, with about 700 sent to prisoner of war camps in Ontario, reads the website for the Canadian Museum for Human Rights.

Former prime minister Brian Mulroney formally apologized to survivors and their families in 1988.

Sweet initially pointed to the internment camps in a tweet posted at 10 p.m. on Friday.

"We are experiencing the single greatest breach of our Civil Liberties since the Internment Camps during WW2," he wrote. "ABSOLUTELY NO evidence that lockdowns work but dozens and dozens of papers proving they don't. I'm am saddened and appalled at my political colleagues silence!"

He followed up with another tweet a short time later, clarifying that he was referring to "Canadian internment camps of innocent immigrants during WW2," adding, "Unjustly, because of their ethnic association had their civil liberties suspended even though they were landed immigrants or Canadians.

Sweet then posted another series of tweets on Saturday.

"For those who just can't hold back outrage "since" is Not the same or interchangeable with "as" or "like"! So cancel your disingenuous leap of comparison!" He wrote.

But in yet another tweet just before 1 p.m., the MP apologized.

Sweet did not, however, retract or address his comments on lockdowns.

On Friday federal health officials said modelling shows provincewide restrictions and lockdowns in B.C., Ontario and Quebec are reaping results.

The national "rT" — the metric that tracks the average number of people one infected person will pass the virus on to — has dipped below 1, something Tam described as  "a spark of good news."

Dr. Howard Njoo, the deputy chief public health officer, said the number of new cases will be "brought under control" if the public continues to adhere to lockdown rules for the foreseeable future.

"There's reason to be hopeful," he said in French. "We are starting to see provinces and territories implement public health measures and there are positive results. We can see the rates of infection are going down."