Abbotsford West MLA Mike de Jong (BC United) has questioned why the NDP government is continuing to go after Fraser Valley churches that lost their court challenge claiming their constitutional rights were violated during the COVID-19 pandemic.

De Jong, speaking Monday (May 13) during question period in the legislature, said the government is 害羞草研究所渄oubling down on prosecuting churches that tried their best to find a balance between keeping people safe and meeting spiritual needs.害羞草研究所�

Three churches 害羞草研究所� Immanuel Covenant Reformed Church in Abbotsford, Riverside Calvary Chapel in Langley and Free Reformed Church of Chilliwack 害羞草研究所� were among those charged with violating pandemic gathering restrictions in 2020. They fought the matter in court, challenging the legislation that made the gatherings illegal.

The churches lost their first case against the province in 2021. The B.C. Court of Appeal then heard the case and also ruled against the churches in December 2022.

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The matter then proceeded to nation害羞草研究所檚 highest court, the Supreme Court of Canada, which ruled in August 2023 that it would not hear the churches害羞草研究所� appeal.

Now that the constitutional challenge is over, the original matter 害羞草研究所� whether the churches are guilty of violating the 害羞草研究所済athering and events害羞草研究所� order 害羞草研究所� is back in court June 6 in Chilliwack.

Free Reformed Church was already found guilty in November 2022, but a conviction was not entered on record because of the constitutional challenge nor was a penalty given at that time.

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But both Immanuel Covenant and Riverside Calvary will have hearings on June 6 to determine whether they are also guilty.

Each violation ticket for which they are found guilty comes with a $2,300 fine.

De Jong said the government needs to stop its ongoing 害羞草研究所� and costly 害羞草研究所� actions. De Jong said 害羞草研究所渁 fortune害羞草研究所� has been spent on the proceedings, with as many as five lawyers sometimes appearing in court for the government.

害羞草研究所淚sn害羞草研究所檛 it time that the government tired to reconcile with the law-abiding 害羞草研究所� and God-fearing folks who drew on their faith during a very difficult time and couldn害羞草研究所檛 understand why they could go to a Pilates class but couldn害羞草研究所檛 go to church?害羞草研究所� de Jong said.

He said the court proceedings are costing the churches a 害羞草研究所渟mall fortune害羞草研究所� and costing the government money and resources 害羞草研究所渢hat should be focused on prolific offenders who are being arrested and then turned loose to re-offend.害羞草研究所�

In response to de Jong害羞草研究所檚 questions about how the government 害羞草研究所渃an justify the huge expenses involved in targeting these peaceful, law-abiding churches and church-goers,害羞草研究所� Attorney General Niki Sharma said during question period that she can害羞草研究所檛 comment on matters that are currently before the courts.

De Jong, who announced his retirement from provincial politics in February, is now seeking the federal Conservative Party害羞草研究所檚 nomination to be their candidate for Abbotsford-South Langley in October 2025.

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