COVID Charges Against Ontario Pastor Dropped Due to Lack of Evidence

LifeSite News ^ | 2/23/23 | Anthony Murdoch

[marshmallow]

'There is at least some tacit acknowledgement among Crowns that the public interest in continuing to prosecute [COVID] breaches is minimal to non-existent,' noted the pastor's lawyer.

(LifeSiteNews) –– Crown prosecutors have dropped COVID charges levied against Ontario Christian pastor Dr. Aaron Rock of Harvest Bible Church for holding a church service contrary to COVID rules in 2020, and for protesting at an anti-lockdown rally.

Rock’s lawyer, Christopher Fleury, said Wednesday that he is “pleased to see Crown Attorneys across the province are taking a more reasonable and practical approach to prosecuting these types of offences.”

“There is at least some tacit acknowledgement among Crowns that the public interest in continuing to prosecute ROA (Re-opening Ontario Act) breaches is minimal to non-existent,” noted Fleury.

According to Fleury, Rock “is satisfied with the outcome of these charges and will continue to fight one remaining charge in a third jurisdiction.”

The Justice Centre for Constitutional Freedoms (JCCF), which fully funded Rock’s legal defense, said he was charged under the Re-opening Ontario Act (ROA) on two separate occasions.

His charges were dropped on February 6 by the Crown Attorney in Windsor.

Another charge levied against Rock, this one from Stratford, Ontario, was withdrawn at the request of the Crown on February 16, 2023.

In December 2020, the provincial government of Ontario put in place very restrictive measures, including gathering limits on places of worship, which it claimed were needed to curb the spread of COVID.

With Rock’s church being in Windsor, Ontario, he was subjected to the rules under the Re-opening Ontario Act (ROA), which sought to limit services to no more than 10 people, which Crown prosecutors alleged he violated.

[BenLurkin]