Ontario’s Emergency Measures and Civil Protection Act (EMCPA) is about to be put to the test Sunday morning and it won’t be challenged by a vociferous group of protesters. Instead it will be carloads of approximately 250 worshippers quietly listening to the message from Pastor Henry Hildebrandt broadcast in their vehicles.
In defiance of a determination by the Aylmer Police Service’s legal counsel that the drive-in service is in violation of the EMCPA.
For the past two weeks the church has held similar services under the watchful eye of Aylmer Police who did not hand out warnings or lay charges.
Speaking with myFM earlier this week, Hildebrandt said those attending remain in their cars with the windows up, they do not interact with other vehicles and no one is allowed in the church to use a washroom.
He indicated the church was seeking legal advice before any decision would be made as to whether to proceed with a third drive-in service this Sunday.
On Friday, Lisa Bildy, a staff lawyer with the Justice Centre for Constitutional Freedoms, in a letter to Aylmer Police advised “that the measures taken by the Church provide much more safety to public health than long lineups of people waiting to get into the liquor store, or sitting in their vehicles bumper to bumper at the Tim Horton’s drive-thru – all permitted activities.”
Bildy continued, “To ensure that you are satisfied that the event will proceed in a safe manner, as it did on the previous two Sundays, the Church is willing to hire two off-duty police officers at its own expense to assist in maintaining social distancing at the event.
“We request an immediate response from you confirming that the Aylmer Police Department has rescinded its decision to ticket the church and its members, provided they abide by the conditions set out herein.”
Aylmer Police have indicated, should the drive-in service proceed, “those attending could be subject to facing charges for failing to comply with an order during a declared emergency.”
In a release Saturday afternoon, Hildebrandt stressed “we will hold our third drive-in service under the threat of hefty fines, disruption, and physical roadblocks by order of the Aylmer Chief of Police.
“We have attempted, unsuccessfully, to reach an acceptable compromise with him these past 6 days. Regrettably, he has allowed his judgement to be clouded by one inaccurate post on Facebook that generated hundreds of comments and 15 complaint calls to the police service (this post has since been deleted).”
