Posted on 04/08/2021 4:17:01 AM PDT by EBH
April 7, 2021
EDMONTON - Today, April 7, 2021, Alberta Health Services (AHS) physically closed GraceLife Church (GLC) and has prevented access to the building until GLC can demonstrate the ability to comply with Alberta’s Chief Medical Officer of Health’s (CMOH) restrictions.
For several months, AHS has attempted to work collaboratively with GLC to address the ongoing public health concerns at the site. Steps taken prior to physically closing the site include:
An order issued by AHS on December 17th, 2020, requiring GLC to comply with CMOH restrictions. A Court of Queen’s Bench Order obtained on January 21st, 2021, requiring GLC to comply with the previous order. A Closure Order issued on January 29th, 2021, requiring closure until compliance with the restrictions was attained.
On March 27, 2021, AHS sent a letter to Pastor Coates providing him with information on the continued spread of COVID-19. Last week, AHS invited Pastor Coates to meet virtually to discuss the risks presented by COVID-19, however the church has not provided any dates to meet.
GLC has decided not to follow these mandatory restrictions, nor have they attempted to work with AHS to reduce the risk of COVID-19 transmission.
With COVID-19 cases increasing and the more easily-transmitted and potentially more severe variants becoming dominant, there is urgent need to minimize spread to protect all Albertans.
From July 10, 2020 to April 6, 2021, AHS has received 105 complaints from the public about GLC. AHS inspectors have conducted 18 inspections at the site since July 10, 2020 and violations were observed at each visit.
By 8 a.m., a layer of fencing adorned with black cloth had been placed around the perimeter of the building. By noon, the driveway into the church and the parking lot had also been blocked by a fencing company.
GraceLife Church shuttered by authorities after months of flouting COVID-19 rules
Easy. Hold services in the parking lot.
‘Draconian and aggressive enforcement’
Lawyer John Carpay called the closure of the church outrageous.
“I’m very disappointed to see this kind of draconian and aggressive enforcement of health orders when these health orders themselves are being challenged in court,” Carpay told CBC News.
“It shows a very aggressive government that is not answering questions about its policies, but wants to push its weight around and try and make an example out of GraceLife Church.”
Carpay said he had not spoken yet to pastor James Coates and was unsure what would happen next Sunday. He speculated that there would still be a worship service held in a different building.
University of Calgary law professor Lorian Hardcastle said she expects congregants to hold some form of protest on Sunday.
She applauded the closure but questioned the timing.
“I think it’s concerning that the government and law enforcement allowed for two services to happen over the Easter weekend,” Hardcastle said. “Especially with the variants now we know circulating in quite a widespread manner in Edmonton.”
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/edmonton/gracelife-church-edmonton-covid-1.5977931
It’s in a rural area, so I would ask one of the local farmers to hold a service in a field.
I would ask the farmers to pull the fence down. This is an epidemic with a 99% survival rate.
It is not an epidemic with a 99% survival rate. Get your facts together, man!
It is a virus with a 99.8% survival rate.
https://sentinelksmo.org/covid-survival-rate-holding-at-99-8-for-adults-18-64/
"GLC has decided not to follow these mandatory restrictions, nor have they attempted to work with AHS to reduce the risk of COVID-19 transmission."
The lefts idea of "working with them" is to bow down and do what they tell you with no room for negotiation, period.
“From July 10, 2020 to April 6, 2021, AHS has received 105 complaints from the public about GLC.”
Sounds like some of the “faithful” there are what has been called elsewhere “sheep with teeth”. I thought they had freedom of religion in Canada - must be mistaken.
Course, here in DFW, we had a pastor call the police on a pregnant lady who wanted to breath! (maskless)
Totalitarian bureaucrap crap.
Bureaucrap! Bump
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