By Canadian Press

B.C. judge dismisses churches’ petition against COVID-19 rules: lawyer says

Mar 18, 2021 | 8:46 PM

VANCOUVER — A legal advocacy group that challenged COVID-19 rules in British Columbia says its argument that the restrictions unjustifiably infringed on religious freedoms has been dismissed by a judge.

The petitioners represented by the Justice Centre for Constitutional Freedoms included a group of Fraser Valley churches that sought to hold in-person services, which have mostly been banned since November. 

The Calgary-based centre says the B.C. Supreme Court did find the orders issued by the province’s top doctor infringed on their right to religious freedom, but they were justified.

In a written ruling released by the advocacy group, Chief Justice Christopher Hinkson says the question before the court was not whether Dr. Bonnie Henry struck the right balance between her orders and infringement of religious freedom, but whether she acted reasonably given the information available to her.

The centre says it’s pleased Hinkson found the orders unjustifiably violated the right of an individual petitioner, Alain Beaudoin of Dawson Creek, to public protest.

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Lawyer Paul Jaffe says in a statement the centre will discuss the decision with its clients, including the prospect of an appeal.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published March 18, 2021.

The Canadian Press