KITCHENER It was an eventful week for Waterloo Region s COVID-19 enforcement partners, who handed out 22 tickets and six court summonses. The penalties were given between Dec. 28 and Jan. 6 and were spread out across the region. Regional Chair Karen Redman announced them during a media briefing on Friday morning. The latest enforcement update comes as COVID-19 cases surge in Waterloo Region. Nearly two thirds of the region s total number of cases have been reported in the last two months alone, the region s online COVID-19 dashboard shows. More than 50 people have died since Nov. 8. Four of the tickets were given in Cambridge, each with a price tag of $880. Three were handed out at private residences for indoor gatherings, while the fourth was given to Stag Shop at 561 Hespeler Rd. for remaining open as a non-essential business during the province s COVID-19 lockdown.
Canadian church latest to clash with authorities over COVID-19
Wednesday, January 6, 2021 |
Charlie Butts (OneNewsNow.com)
Spanish
It appears as if a court will determine if a Canadian church is staffed with criminals.
The church is Trinity Bible Chapel, located in Waterloo, Ontario, where authorities are charging church elders with violating a 10-person limit imposed because of COVID-19.
Church leaders are vowing to fight the charge and to continue holding in-person worship services.
Police officers with the Waterloo Region Police Service served six elders at their homes with a court summons that alleges they are violating the Reopening Ontario Act.
Attorneys from the Canadian-based Justice Centre for Constitutional Freedoms will represent the church elders in their first court appearance, which is set for later this month.
Trinity Bible Chapel in Waterloo, Canada | Facebook/Trinity Bible Chapel
Multiple churches will be challenging the legality of Ontario’s measures aimed at curbing the spread of the coronavirus, amid police actions halting in-person worship services.
The Calgary, Alberta-based Justice Centre for Constitutional Freedoms announced Monday that they were taking on multiple challenges to the Reopening Ontario Act, which only allows churches to have an attendance of 10 people indoors and 10 people outdoors.
These include Old Colony Mennonite Church and Word of Life Mennonite community, both of which were charged by police for holding services in violation of the Act.
According to the Centre, at least one of the services involved police giving a brief warning and then entering the building, demanding that they end their worship immediately.
Members of Trinity Bible Chapel charged for exceeding gathering limits
Several members of Trinity Bible Chapel were charged last Wednesday for breaching province-wide shutdown restrictions, according to Waterloo Region Police, in consultation with Region of Waterloo Public Health.
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CBC News ·
Posted: Jan 03, 2021 10:50 AM ET | Last Updated: January 3
The church says six elders were charged under the Reopening Ontario Act.(Trinity Bible Chapel Website)
Several members of Trinity Bible Chapel were charged last Wednesday for breaching province-wide shutdown restrictions, according to Waterloo Region Police, in consultation with Region of Waterloo Public Health.
Police said officers responded to a church gathering at 1373 Lobsinger Line in Waterloo on Sunday, Dec. 27, and observed a congregation that exceeded the number of permitted people in attendance.