Alberta café owner found guilty of breaching public health orders

According to court filings from Justice John D Rooke, Scott and anyone working with him or independently to like effect, “shall not organize an in-person gathering, promote an illegal public gathering via social media or otherwise, nor attend an illegal public gathering in any public or private place.”

An illegal public gathering, it stated, was any gathering which did not comply with current orders handed down by the chief medical officer of health, including masking requirements, attendance limits and physical distancing.

It went on to say that any police officer or peace officer “is authorized to use reasonable force in arresting and removing any person who has notice of the order, or that they have probable grounds to believe is contravening it”.

In his ruling Monday, Germain says Christopher Scott openly flaunted the efforts of Alberta Health Services (AHS) to control the third wave of the COVID-19 pandemic and operated his business in defiance of public health orders that restaurants remain closed at that time.

Germain further noted Scott was a vocal objector to the AHS health orders and was openly encouraging gatherings contrary to both health orders and court orders. He concluded in his summary that Scott had ample knowledge of the court order, and suggested the breach of them was willful and deliberate, with no legally recognized excuses.

Brothers Artur and Dawid Pawlowski, who are connected with a Calgary street church and were also facing contempt charges, have also been found guilty of breaching various public health orders.

A sanctioning hearing for all three men is scheduled for July 27.

by Sheldon Spackman/rdnewsNOW

Alberta café owner found guilty of breaching public health orders

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