Mayor Ted Clugton responds to questions regarding churches flouting restrictions (Tiffany Goodwein/CHATNewsToday)

By Tiffany Goodwein

‘It’s difficult for me’: Mayor on churches flouting restrictions

Apr 5, 2021 | 10:55 PM

MEDICINE HAT, AB- A day after Heights Baptist Church appeared to publicly flout restrictions, Mayor Ted Clugston told CHAT News that balancing the public health order alongside the public’s push for personal freedoms is a challenging balance to strike as Mayor of the city.

“First of all I didn’t make the orders, and in some cases, we don’t even enforce them, so I can’t tell the police what to do,” Clugston said,

“But really I’m a lot about free speech and allowing people to do what they wish, and to get the state out of the way and the government out of the way,” he said, noting the City is very much at the mercy of the province when it comes to restrictions and enforcement.

When asked about what he thinks should happen to churches like Heights Baptist, Clugston said he didn’t want to get into it, but believes personal freedoms should be taken into account.

“I do believe they have a right to free speech, and they do have the right to congregate. This is a difficult situation. If they would have called it a different type of gathering, a protest maybe people would have turned a blind eye to it, but because it is a religious gathering there is strict rules around that, but I’m going to leave it up to the province, ” he said.

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Mayor Clugston also said he would support the MHPS with whatever decision they make regarding fines and enforcement.

The MHPS has yet to release a statement regarding Heights Baptist Church. But late Monday, MHPS Chief Mike Worden took to Twitter and said that more options are needed to allow people to gather for worship services while following restrictions. He also said that it is sad to see the issue tear communities apart.

Chief Worden is scheduled to speak to the media Tuesday morning.

Case numbers in Medicine Hat have nearly doubled over the weekend. There are currently 45 active cases of COVID-19 in the city.