The court imposed $38,000 in fines and $45,000 in substantial indemnity costs on a church and its leaders for intentionally breaching a COVID-19 public health order.
The Attorney General of Ontario brought a motion to determine the appropriate sentence for Trinity Bible Chapel and six individuals (the "Contemnors") who were found in contempt of a January 22, 2021 court order.
The order restrained them from holding gatherings of more than 10 persons, contravening Ontario Regulation 82/20.
The Contemnors had intentionally and publicly breached the order, having previously expressed an intent to engage in civil disobedience rather than challenge the legislation constitutionally.
The court considered proportionality, mitigating and aggravating factors, deterrence, denunciation, and similar sentences.
The court imposed fines totaling $38,000 ($15,000 for Trinity Bible Chapel, and varying amounts for the individual Contemnors based on their involvement) and fixed costs of $45,000 on a substantial indemnity basis, payable jointly and severally by the respondents.
