Pastor charged with breaking COVID-19 health orders to appeal bail conditions
Posted Mar 4, 2021 9:21 am.
Last Updated Mar 4, 2021 6:15 pm.
EDMONTON – An Alberta pastor accused of holding Sunday services that violated COVID-19 rules is to appeal his bail conditions Thursday.
James Coates with GraceLife Church, west of Edmonton, has been in jail for just over two weeks.
WATCH: Local pastor remains in jail
Coates is charged with violating Alberta’s Public Health Act and with breaking a promise to abide by conditions of his bail release, which is a Criminal Code offence.
The church has been holding services that officials say break public-health orders on attendance, masking and distancing.
A lawyer with the Justice Centre for Constitutional Freedoms is representing the pastor.