Pandemic-era public health charges have been dropped against an Edmonton-area pastor and church, as well as a central Alberta man who hosted a rodeo in protest of COVID-19 restrictions.
GraceLife Church pastor James Coates had been cited for violating public health orders by holding church services without adhering to gathering limits imposed by the provincial government.
“I am pleased with the result and Pastor Coates and his church should feel a degree of vindication,” said a statement from Hart Spencer, the lawyer representing the pastor and church.
He appeared in Stony Plain provincial court Thursday on behalf of his client.
“Pastor Coates and his congregation had these charges hanging over them for close to three years. That could not have been easy.”
For several months in 2021, the church located just west of Edmonton defied health orders and hosted hundreds of people for its weekly services.
The church did not adhered to rules on wearing masks or keeping distances and ignored a closure order, even as fencing was put up around the building on Highway 627 in Parkland County.
The standoff between the church and public health officials was contentious, drawing an anti-restriction crowd to protest outside the facility.
But now, 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.
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The province’s Public Health Act doesn’t allow those decisions to be made by politicians, and the Alberta Court of King’s Bench ruled them invalid.
The Alberta Crown Prosecution Service says the court’s ruling in that case made it unlikely they could get a conviction against Coates for contravening public health orders.
An Alberta provincial court spokesman confirms charges have also been stayed against Ty Northcott, whose family hosted a “No More Lockdowns Rodeo Rally” near Bowden, Alta., in May 2021.
Coates and Northcott were two of several people whose pandemic-era charges were dropped in the wake of the court ruling.
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Judge dismisses charter application of GraceLife pastor on trial for violating health orders -
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Trial begins for James Coates, the GraceLife pastor fighting COVID-19 restrictions -
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COVID-19 health order violation trial begins for GraceLife pastor James Coates -
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GraceLife Church closure protesters park vehicles on Enoch Cree Nation land without permission -
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Large crowd of GraceLife Church supporters try to take down temporary RCMP fencing -
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Crowd gathers outside fenced off GraceLife Church near Edmonton -
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Does GraceLife Church shutdown signal more enforcement in Alberta? -
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GraceLife Church fenced off as Alberta Health Service ‘physically closes’ Parkland County facility -
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AHS erects fencing around GraceLife Church west of Edmonton -
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Concerns flare over continued flouting of rules at GraceLife Church -
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GraceLife Pastor James Coates fined $1,500 and released from jail -
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GraceLife Church pastor to be released from jail, must pay $1,500 fine -
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Group representing Alberta pastor jailed for breaking COVID-19 rules says he’s being released -
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Group representing GraceLife pastor jailed for breaking COVID-19 rules says he’s being released -
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Judge rules GraceLife Church pastor will remain behind bars -
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Edmonton court hears bail review for GraceLife Church pastor -
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Despite pastor behind bars, members of GraceLife Church near Edmonton continue to defy COVID-19 rules -
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COVID-19: Alberta’s top doctor discusses situation surrounding GraceLife Church near Edmonton -
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Alberta pastor accused of breaking COVID-19 health rules remains behind bars after refusing to follow conditions -
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Hinshaw responds to rule-breaking pastor offering help if health system is swamped by COVID-19
— With files from Karen Bartko, Global News
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