CALGARY -- An Alberta judge dismissed a legal challenge filed by two southern Alberta churches and three individuals arguing that COVID-19 restrictions violate the Charter of Rights and should not have been imposed. Court of Queen’s Bench Justice Anne Kirker ruled on the matter shortly after 3 p.m. Monday afternoon, rejecting it. "I am of the view that there is a greater public interest in maintaining the integrity of order 42 than there is in staying the part of it the applicants asked me to suspend so that they and other citizens of this province are able to gather and celebrate the holidays and to otherwise exercise their religious freedoms," Kirker said.