April 16, 2021
WATERLOO: The Justice Centre was in court today on behalf of Trinity Bible Chapel (Trinity), after the Attorney General went before a Justice for an urgent ruling that the church and its leaders were in contempt of court, and requested an order directing Sheriffs to immediately lock the church’s doors.
Trinity has already faced contempt proceedings, after it continued to hold religious services against an enforcement order obtained by the government on January 22. On February 23, Trinity and its leaders were ordered to pay fines and costs totalling $83,000.
That enforcement order is being challenged by the Justice Centre on constitutional grounds, and the matter is expected to be heard in July.
The government had requested this latest order following two Sundays in April, when the church allegedly held services over the 15% capacity limit. The Justice Centre argued that the original order appeared to be limited to banning services over a 10-person limit, which was not the same as 15% capacity. The court agreed. Since the request for an order to lock the church doors was based on there being a finding of contempt, and it was questionable as to whether a contempt finding could be made given the changing government regulations, the Justice ruled against Ontario. He noted that the government lawyers could have easily brought a motion without notice to Trinity to get a new order to keep up with changing restrictions, but it had failed to do so.
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