By: Thomas I. Likness
EBC News Service

(Eagle News) — A Protestant church pastor remains in jail awaiting trial for violating public health restrictions in the western Canadian province of Alberta.

A trial date was set Wednesday for James Coates, pastor of Grace Life Church in Spruce Grove near the Alberta capital of Edmonton.

The three-day trial begins May 3.

Coates has been denied bail after refusing to agree to a condition that he not hold in-person church services.

Police charged Coates last week with violating restrictions on attendance, physical distancing and masking laws.

His Sunday services have been packed with several hundred people since December.

Coates had previously been ticketed for the offences and ignored orders to stop.

After his second arrest last week, Coates said he could not comply with bail conditions and has remained in jail since.

Churches in Alberta are only allowed to accommodate 15 per cent of their fire code capacity. Attendees must physically distance and wear masks.

Coates claims those restrictions are a violation of rights.

An associate pastor with the church conducted the service last Sunday before a capacity crowd.
(Eagle News Service)