BC Drops 24 Tickets Against Pastors for Holding In-Person Worship Services During Pandemic Restrictions

Free Reformed Church is seen as people attend Sunday Service, in Chilliwack, B.C., on Feb. 21, 2021. The Canadian Press/Darryl Dyck

British Columbia’s Crown Prosecution Service has dropped two dozen COVID-19 tickets served on three Chilliwack pastors who conducted in-person worship services in violation of provincial pandemic restriction orders.  

The Justice Centre for Constitutional Freedoms, which represents the pastors, says the fines would have totalled $55,200.

“Because of B.C.’s total prohibition on all worship services, even where safety precautions were strictly adhered to, police began ticketing these churches for meeting weekly to worship starting in December 2020 and continuing halfway into 2021,” the Justice Centre said in a May 11 press release.