A judge has dismissed the British Columbia government s application for an injunction against three Fraser Valley churches that are breaking COVID-19 rules that prohibit in-person services, though he agreed the public will likely face what may be greater exposure to the virus.
The injunction request by B.C. s attorney general and provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry came after the churches and others filed a petition challenging the rules, arguing they violate their charter rights and freedoms.
B.C. Supreme Court Chief Justice Christopher Hinkson said in a written ruling released Wednesday that the provincial health officer has means under the Public Health Act to enforce the rules without an injunction.
The pastor of an Alberta church that has met for months every Sunday in defiance of public health orders is willing to go to jail in order to do the "right thing," according to his lawyer.
Edmonton and area international travellers are part of a group now represented by The Justice Centre for Constitutional Freedoms suing the federal government…
B.C. lawyers seek to ease restrictions on churches February 17, 2021
VANCOUVER Catholic lawyers in the Archdiocese of Vancouver are adding their voices to the growing numbers calling for the B.C. government to end its ban on worship services.
The St. Thomas More Catholic Lawyers Guild of B.C. is preparing a formal request to the Ministry of Health to ease the current restrictions on churches in time for Easter.
Lawyer Warren Smith said the guild is acting now after receiving no response to a letter sent in December to Provincial Health Officer Dr. Bonnie Henry and Health Minister Adrian Dix. It asked the government to allow church services to resume, even if attendance is limited to 50 people.
The pastor of an Alberta church that has met for months every Sunday in defiance of public health orders is willing to go to jail in order to do the "right thing," according to his lawyer.