Trial begins in southern Alberta churches' challenge of COVID-19 restrictions
The province's COVID-19 public health measures and other restrictions are at the centre of a civil trial set to begin Thursday morning.
The case stems from a constitutional challenged launched in December 2020 by Rath and Company and the Justice Centre for Constitutional Freedoms, representing two Alberta churches and three individuals.
They are seeking declarations that Alberta's public health orders are contrary to the Alberta Bill of Rights, unjustifiably limit Charter protected rights and are unlawful.
Lawyers were seeking an injunction to temporarily stay rules that included limits on church capacity and bans on social gatherings or in-person dining.
Court of Queen’s Bench Justice Anne Kirker rejected it, saying the risk of COVID-19 is real and that the public health measures were in the public's best interest.
The trial comes on the heels of the provincial government releasing plans to lift most COVID-19 restrictions by March 1.
The issue has become contentious with ongoing protests over vaccine mandates and other public health measures taking place near the the Coutts border crossing, in cities across Alberta, and the ongoing demonstrations in Ottawa.
The trial is scheduled for 10 days and gets underway Thursday morning.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Deceased found in St. Lawrence River were trying to cross U.S. border: police
The six people whose bodies were recovered from the St. Lawrence River Thursday consisted of two families of Romanian and Indian origins who were likely trying to enter the U.S. illegally, police said Friday.

Ottawa gives final approval for Rogers $26B purchase of Shaw
Rogers Communications Inc's $26-billion takeover of Shaw Communications Inc. cleared the last regulatory hurdle Friday, more than two years after the deal was first announced.
Trump to be arraigned Tuesday to face New York indictment
Former U.S. President Donald Trump will be arraigned Tuesday after his indictment in New York City, court officials said Friday, his formal surrender and arrest presenting the historic, shocking scene of a former U.S. commander in chief forced to stand before a judge.
These are the conditions -- and penalties if violated -- of the Rogers-Shaw deal
Canadian Industry Minister François-Philippe Champagne has approved Rogers Communications Inc.'s $26-billion takeover of rival telecom Shaw Communications Inc., but there are conditions attached and penalties of up to $1 billion if the companies violate them.
Syphilis cases in babies skyrocket in Canada amid health-care failures
The numbers of babies born with syphilis in Canada are rising at a far faster rate than recorded in the United States or Europe, an increase public health experts said is driven by increased methamphetamine use and lack of access to the public health system for Indigenous people.
Oscar Pistorius denied parole as Reeva Steenkamp's parents oppose his early release
Disgraced South African Paralympic sprinter Oscar Pistorius has been denied parole, the lawyer for Reeva Steenkamp's parents said after the parole hearing.
Former Conservative leader Erin O'Toole not seeking re-election, leaving this spring
Former Conservative leader Erin O'Toole says he will not seek re-election and plans to resign his seat this spring. The Ontario MP led the Conservatives and served as official Opposition leader from August 2020 until February 2022, when a majority of his caucus voted to remove him from the post.
Trump's indictment in New York: Here's what to know
The vote of a Manhattan grand jury to indict the Republican former president on charges related to hush money payments made on his behalf during his 2016 presidential campaign catapults the now-candidate Donald Trump into a new era of legal risk and complicates his attempts to return to the White House.
Online-streaming bill closer to passing after House OKs most Senate amendments
A Liberal government bill that would require online streaming services to contribute to Canadian content is one step closer to passing after the House of Commons approved most of the Senate's amendments to the proposed legislation.