A challenge by two Ontario churches of public health restrictions amid the COVID-19 pandemic begins Monday, with their lawyers arguing the measures violate the right to freedom of religion and assembly under the Constitution. The proceedings from the Ontario Superior Court of Justice in St. Thomas will be before Justice Renee Pomerance and shown virtually. The Church of God in Aylmer and the Trinity Bible Chapel in Waterloo were charged in the spring of 2021 for various infringements of the public health restrictions put in place to help curb the spread of the virus. Church leaders held in-person gatherings despite provincial prohibitions, getting fines and charges under the Reopening Ontario Act. Eric Adams, a constitutional law expert, isn’t involved in the case, but spoke to CBC News on what can be expected during the hearing. "The burden will be on the churches to demonstrate that their rights have been infringed by these public health measures, and they’ll actually have an easy time doing that and the government won’t dispute it," said Adams, a vice-dean with the University of Alberta law school. "It’s absolutely clear in the case law that if you restrict the numbers that are able to worship […]
