Church could be hit with $1-M fine for repeated violations

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This article was published 07/06/2021 (1200 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

The Church of God (Restoration) near Steinbach is facing a fine of as much as $1 million after repeatedly violating public health orders aimed at slowing the spread of COVID-19.

A provincial spokeswoman said this latest court action — taken after numerous $5,000 fines were issued against the church in recent months — is the first time the province has decided to lay a charge in court, instead of issuing a ticket with a set fine.

“Church of God (Restoration) was issued a summons to attend court in answer to charges laid on an information, a process wherein an enforcement officer gives information under oath to a justice about an alleged offence,” said a statement from a Justice Department spokeswoman.

“When an information is laid for an offence resulting from the failure to comply with a public health emergency order made under section 90(5) of The Public Health Act, a corporation that is guilty of such an offence is liable on summary conviction.”

The spokeswoman said a judge will determine the amount of fine, but it can be set as high as $1 million.

The church has been ticketed repeatedly for holding services that violate gathering restrictions issued for churches and other faith organizations.

One of its pastors, Tobias Tissen, has also been fined repeatedly. Tissen, who has spoken at rallies denouncing the use of masks and other provincial restrictions, is being sought by police after a warrant was issued for his arrest.

Tissen could not be reached for comment, but last February, after the church received two $5,000 fines, he told the Free Press “the insolence officials have in handing out a fine to the church, which is the apple of God’s eye, in a country that recognizes the supremacy of God, is incomprehensible.”

The province issued more than $160,000 in fines to Manitobans and businesses that allegedly violated COVID-19 public health orders in the past week.

The province said 124 people were fined $1,296 apiece for violating public health orders — 116 of them were for illegal gatherings in private residences or outdoors. One business, the Midtown Motor Inn in Portage la Prairie, was fined $5,000 and five Manitobans were each fined $298 for not wearing a mask in an indoor public place.

The province also issued 219 warnings.

kevin.rollason@freepress.mb.ca