Charges dropped against Waterloo church open during pandemic, but fines remain

Expenses have been stayed towards leaders of a Waterloo, ON church that defied gathering limits throughout the pandemic, however a hefty superb stays.

In a Tuesday press launch, the for Constitutional Freedoms (JCCF) introduced the case towards Trinity Bible Chapel has been resolved, ensuing within the staying of prices towards six spiritual leaders.

The chapel has been ordered to pay fines totaling $38,800 for internet hosting spiritual providers in Ontario, violations of gathering restrictions underneath the Reopening Ontario Act.

In 2020, Ontario enacted the Reopening Ontario Act and imposed capability limits on church providers. These capability limits had been efficient from 2020 to 2022 and diverse in severity all through that point. At their most restrictive, church service capability was restricted to 10 individuals.

Trinity Bible Chapel was some of the vocal advocates for Constitution rights and freedoms in Ontario between December 2020 and June 2021. In consequence, Lead Pastor Jacob Reaume and eight different church elders had been charged underneath the Reopening Ontario Act for organizing six church providers between January and June 2021. These providers exceeded the gathering capability restrictions of the act. Seventy-eight prices had been laid because of these providers; lots of the prices carried a $10,000 minimal superb upon conviction.

In court docket proceedings, legal professionals supplied by the JCCF argued the violations of the liberty of conscience and faith, the primary freedom assured safety by the Canadian Constitution of Rights and Freedoms, in addition to the freedoms of expression, affiliation and peaceable meeting weren’t justified.

The Ontario Superior Courtroom of Justice and Courtroom of Enchantment upheld the constitutionality of the gathering restrictions. On Could 1 2023, Trinity Bible Chapel, the Aylmer Church of God, together with varied pastors and elders, filed an for depart to attraction their constitutional challenges to Ontario gathering restrictions to the Supreme Courtroom of Canada.

The events sought to argue that the decrease courts had didn’t assess whether or not the gathering restrictions infringed upon the freedoms of expression, peaceable meeting and affiliation, as assured by the Constitution. On August 10 2023, the Supreme Courtroom of Canada declined to listen to the attraction.

Attorneys have negotiated an settlement whereby all prices towards the elders of Trinity Bible Chapel have been stayed, together with all prices towards spiritual leaders Michael Thiessen, Nathaniel Wright and Jacob Reaume in connection to protests in Kitchener-Waterloo. Trinity Bible Chapel can have one 12 months to pay a $38,800 superb.

Lawyer Chris Fleury acknowledged, “This consequence is a mirrored image of Ontario Courts’ failure to guard and uphold spiritual freedom. My purchasers and I strongly disagree with the Courts’ choices with respect to their Constitution protections however settle for that the choice of the Ontario Courtroom of Enchantment is binding on them.”

“My purchasers are joyful to lastly put these tickets and occasions behind them, and to take action in a manner that ends the prosecution of different spiritual leaders who had been ticketed within the Kitchener-Waterloo jurisdiction.”