Alberta prosecutors drop public health violation charges against pastor – CBC
Case quashed after Calgary judge found Alberta government improperly imposed orders under Public Health Act
Sep 01, 2023
Pandemic-era public health charges have been dropped against an Edmonton-area pastor who was accused of holding religious services in violation of COVID-19 restrictions.
GraceLife Church pastor James Coates had been cited for violating public health orders by holding church services without following the gathering limits imposed by the provincial government.
However, Crown prosecutors say they had to quash the case against Coates and GraceLife after another court decision last month found the Alberta government under then-United Conservative premier Jason Kenney had improperly imposed the orders under the Public Health Act.
In that decision, the court found Dr. Deena Hinshaw, who was the provincial chief medical officer of health at the time, had not made the decision to impose the public health orders, instead leaving it up to cabinet of the Alberta government.
