The Church of God Restoration near Steinbach, Manitoba, was given a $5,000 ticket—the maximum allowed under the province’s public health act—after holding an in-person service days after the province had banned all faith-based gatherings amid a spike in COVID-19 cases.
Senior Pastor Henry Hildebrandt said the church regularly reminded members of the province’s health protocols and requirements, and supplied them with free masks if needed. He questioned why the province banned church services while allowing “liquor, cannabis, department and big box stores” to remain open.
