Skip to main content

Alberta appeals court quashes COVID-19 health violations case against Edmonton church

Alberta court

Convictions against an Edmonton church fined more than $80,000 for refusing COVID-19 inspections by a public health officer during services have been quashed by an Alberta court.

A trio of justices for the Alberta Court of Appeal in a consent judgement filed Monday aquitted appellants Tracy Fortin and Edmonton's Church in the Vine on three counts of obstructing an inspector in 2021, contrary to the Public Health Act.

Fortin and the west-end church had been found guilty in May 2022 and appealed the decisions.

The acquittal comes in the wake of revocations in other Alberta COVID-19 related cases, including those against pastor James Coates and GraceLife Church, and WhistleStop Cafe owner Christopher Scott.

CTVNews.ca Top Stories

WATCH LIVE

WATCH LIVE Canadian government reaches C-18 online news deal with Google

The Canadian government has reached a deal with Google over the Online News Act known as C-18, Canadian Heritage Minister Pascale St-Onge announced Wednesday. The agreement will see the tech giant continue to share Canadian news content, and in return Google will make $100 million in annual payments to news companies.

Stay Connected