Calgary Pastor Rejects Bail Terms Amid Claims of Invalid Court Order Used for His Arrest
Another pastor in Alberta has been arrested for allegedly defying the province’s COVID-19 gathering restrictions, but lawyers said the health enforcement order on which the arrest was based is no longer valid.
Pastor Tim Stephens of the Fairview Baptist Church was detained by Calgary police on Sunday for allegedly refusing to limit his congregation and have them wear masks as stipulated by the Alberta Health Services (AHS).
On May 6, the AHS obtained an order from the Court of Queen’s Bench of Alberta that allows the arrest of Whistle Stop Café owner Christopher Scott, former councillor and mayoral candidate for Innisfail town Glen Carritt, and John and Jane Does meaning “any other person acting … independently to like effect and with Notice of this Order” for organizing, attending, and promoting “illegal public gatherings” that violate orders issued by the Alberta Chief Med