British Columbia’s Crown Prosecution Service has dropped two dozen COVID-19 tickets served on three Chilliwack pastors who conducted in-person worship services in violation of provincial pandemic restriction orders.   The Justice Centre for Constitutional Freedoms, which represents the pastors, says the fines would have totalled $55,200. “Because of B.C.’s total prohibition on all worship services, even where safety precautions were strictly adhered to, police began ticketing these churches for meeting weekly to worship starting in December 2020 and continuing halfway into 2021,” the Justice Centre said in a May 11 press release.  Pastor John Koopman of the Chilliwack Free Reformed Church was facing charges from 23 tickets totalling $52,900. Pastor James Butler of the Free Grace Baptist Church was given 25 tickets totalling $57,500, and Pastor Timothy Champ with the Valley Heights Community Church was issued 18 tickets totalling $41,400.
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