A provincial court in Alberta, Canada, ruled earlier this week that Pastor James Coates, who was <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/judge-releases-canadian-pastor-jailed-for-alleged-health-order-violation-suggests-he-shepherds-his-church-poorly" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">jailed</a> earlier this year after holding church services, will not be allowed to challenge the constitutional validity of Alberta&#8217;s Public Health Act during his upcoming trial.
The Provincial Court in Stony Plain, Alberta, also ruled that the government will not have to produce scientific evidence to support the order, according to a <a href="https://www.jccf.ca/court-permits-government-to-avoid-producing-dr-hinshaws-evidence-on-lockdowns-at-may-3-trial-of-pastor-james-coates/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">press release</a> from the Justice Centre for Constitutional Freedoms (JCCF).
&#8220;Government lawyers told the Court that the Alberta Government could not produce any scientific evidence in support of Dr. Hinshaw’s orders in time for the May 3 trial,&#8221; JCCF said. The Alberta Government Crown Prosecutor had before <a href="https://www.jccf.ca/alberta-government-seeks-to-delay-may-3-trial-of-pastor-coates-and-barricades-church/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">sought to delay</a> the May 3 trial so the prosecution could have more time to gather evidence.
Coates, who pastors GraceLife Church near Edmonton, was arrested in February and jailed for more than a month for conducting services in violation of the Health Act issued by Alberta&#8217;s Chief Medical Officer of Health Deena Hinshaw, which limited congregations to 15% capacity. JCCF filed challenges to the constitutionality and legality of Hinshaw’s orders, which the court will not hear until an unknown later date.
“After 13 months of violating Charter freedoms, the Alberta Government refuses to present evidence in support of lockdowns in Court, and unfortunately the courts have permitted the government to delay facing accountability in regard to Charter violations,” said lawyer John Carpay, who is president of the Justice Centre.
“Justice delayed is justice denied. It is clear that the government’s approach to any challenge to its lockdown policies is to withhold the evidence and delay as long as it can,” he continued, adding:
<blockquote>We are now in our thirteenth month of Charter-violating lockdowns, in what was supposed to be a temporary two-week measure to flatten the curve. By May 3, the government will have had fourteen months to assemble proper medical and scientific evidence to justify lockdowns and the resulting violations of our fundamental Charter freedoms. For the Alberta Government to request that it not be required to provide evidence on May 3 in support of Dr. Hinshaw’s Orders, while at the same time barricading the church, is both reprehensible and pathetic.
The Alberta government supposedly has enough medical and scientific evidence to shut down hundreds of small businesses, pushing many of them into bankruptcy, and to cancel over 20,000 medically necessary surgeries, and to force Albertans into a third lockdown. But when asked to produce this medical and scientific evidence at trial, the Alberta government declares itself incapable of doing so.</blockquote>
The Coates case and the response from government authorities toward his church have drawn <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/john-macarthur-commends-underground-church-in-canada-reads-heartfelt-letter-from-jailed-alberta-pastor" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">international attention</a> and outrage. On April 7, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) raided the church building at dawn and erected three layers of fencing around the complex, forcing church members to meet in secret.
On Sunday, heavily armed members of the RCMP swarmed the church area in response to protesters, some of whom ripped down portions of the barrier.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
After the Christians tore down the fence that the government had built around the Edmonton church, the police sent in 200 heavily-armed riot police. That’s the church building you see there. This is China stuff, Iran stuff. But it’s happening in Canada. <a href="https://t.co/jYs8E1oXGh">https://t.co/jYs8E1oXGh</a>
&mdash; Ezra Levant 🍁🚛 (@ezralevant) <a href="https://twitter.com/ezralevant/status/1381361461189091333?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 11, 2021</a></blockquote>
Sheila Gunn Reid, a journalist with Rebel News who was present on the ground during the incident, <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/protesters-rip-down-government-fencing-around-alberta-church-police-show-up-in-riot-gear" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">told</a> The Daily Wire that the agitation was not because of anyone at the church, most of whom were meeting at another location with Coates.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
These are the reinforcements the police brought in after the fence came down. <a href="https://t.co/04G8Z5XDGi">pic.twitter.com/04G8Z5XDGi</a>
&mdash; Sheila Gunn Reid (@SheilaGunnReid) <a href="https://twitter.com/SheilaGunnReid/status/1381409363835817986?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 12, 2021</a></blockquote>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
The media will show you chaos and bloodlust at the church protest. 
This is the reality. Prayerful peaceful people. <a href="https://t.co/1OfFMfTHlX">pic.twitter.com/1OfFMfTHlX</a>
&mdash; Sheila Gunn Reid (@SheilaGunnReid) <a href="https://twitter.com/SheilaGunnReid/status/1381377951975936002?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 11, 2021</a></blockquote>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
What the fake news won&#39;t show you is the Christians who called for peace while outsiders tore the fence down. <a href="https://t.co/CJZsjcQQy4">pic.twitter.com/CJZsjcQQy4</a>
&mdash; Sheila Gunn Reid (@SheilaGunnReid) <a href="https://twitter.com/SheilaGunnReid/status/1381409755780894721?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 12, 2021</a></blockquote>
Canadian MP Derek Sloan denounced the behavior of the Alberta government, tweeting, &#8220;In a battle that truly is about the fundamental freedoms of the Western world, Alberta Premier Jason Kenney is choosing to suppress religious liberty. The compliant Canadian media won’t cover this, but America is noticing.&#8221;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
In a battle that truly is about the fundamental freedoms of the Western world, Alberta Premier Jason Kenney is choosing to suppress religious liberty. The compliant Canadian media won’t cover this, but America is noticing. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/cdnpoli?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#cdnpoli</a><a href="https://t.co/nnWecNWX4h">https://t.co/nnWecNWX4h</a>
&mdash; Derek Sloan (@TrueDerekSloan) <a href="https://twitter.com/TrueDerekSloan/status/1382410118071996419?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 14, 2021</a></blockquote>
Related: <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/exclusive-pastor-and-lawyer-defiant-after-canadian-police-raid-barricade-church-at-dawn" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">EXCLUSIVE: Pastor And Lawyer Defiant After Canadian Police Raid, Barricade Church At Dawn</a>

<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
<script async src="https://www.tiktok.com/embed.js"></script>
<script async src="https://www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script><div data-widget-host="revcontent" data-pub-id="165152" data-widget-id="290588"></div><script src="https://delivery.revcontent.com/165152/290588/widget.js"></script>

Court Grants Alberta’s Request To Forbid Jailed Pastor From Challenging Health Order During Trial

CONTINUE READING

Afghan Ally Says He Expects To Be Left Behind And Killed: ‘I’m Going To Die For A Good Thing’

WH, State Dept Reportedly Blocking Efforts To Rescue Afghan Christians: ‘Out-And-Out Evil’

Biden Admits To Being Instructed Which Reporters To Call On; Trump Press Sec Condemns

Biden Crumples At Mic In Response To Questions From Fox News About Afghanistan

‘Satanic’: Carlson, Whitlock Agree Left Driven By Ideas ‘In Direct Objection To God’

Canadian Pastor Who Faces 4-Year Jail Sentence For ‘Inciting’ Church Warns Americans: ‘The Enemy Is Not Hiding Anymore’

News

Alberta

Canada

COVID

Religion

A video goes viral showing a baby being refused his mother by two gay "dads". This is just the tip of the iceberg, which is why we will have an important discussion today about surrogacy. 

Hour 1

The Matt Walsh Show

Ep. 1765 - This Video Is One Of The Worst Things I've Seen In A Long Time 

The Strait of Hormuz officially opens for business (kind of), the Pope makes “shocking” comments on immigration, and President Trump promises UFO disclosure at TPUSA. 


The Michael Knowles Show

Ep. 1956 -  Pope Leo's "SHOCKING" Immigration Comments EXPLAINED

A false miscreed has corrupted our leadership class.


The Andrew Klavan Show

Ep. 1275 - Dumb, Dumber and Progressive

President Trump announces a 10-day ceasefire between Lebanon and Israel, a murder-suicide involving former Democratic Lieutenant Governor Justin Fairfax shakes Virginia, and France and Britain hold a conference to secure the Strait of Hormuz – after the Iranian conflict ends. Get the facts first with Morning Wire.

- - -

Ep. 2738

- - -

Wake up with new Morning Wire merch: https://bit.ly/4lIubt3

- - -

Today's Sponsors:

Alliance Defending Freedom - Visit https://JoinADF.com/WIRE or text 'WIRE' to 83848 to learn more.

Pocket Hose - Text MORNING to 64000 to get a FREE pocket pivot and their 10-pattern sprayer with the purchase of ANY size Copper Head hose. Message and data rates may apply.

Morning Wire

U.S. Expands Hormuz Blockade & VA Fairfax Deaths Investigated | 4.17.26

U.S. Expands Hormuz Blockade & VA Fairfax Deaths Investigated | 4.17.26 [Member Exclusive]

A ceasefire goes into effect between Israel and Lebanon, a tragic murder-suicide rocks Virginia, and Dairy Queen deploys AI in the drive-thru. Get the facts first with Evening Wire.
- - -
Ep. 2737
- - -
Wake up with new Morning Wire merch: https://bit.ly/4lIubt3 
- - -
Today’s Sponsor:

Alliance Defending Freedom - Visit https://JoinADF.com/WIRE or text “WIRE” to 83848 to learn more.


Evening Wire: Lebanon Ceasefire Begins & Murder-Suicide Rocks VA | 4.16.26

The Pendragon Cycle

Menu

— News —

Court Grants Alberta’s Request To Forbid Jailed Pastor From Challenging Health Order During Trial