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Church ordered unlocked

September 15, 2021 | 5

Justice Bruce Thomas on Wednesday morning, September 15 announced he would sign an order agreed to by the province and a lawyer for Aylmer Church of God (Restoration) and its directors that would allow the church to be reopened to its congregation.

The church, as part of a sentence for contempt findings against it and its leaders for defying COVID-19 safety protocols, was ordered locked in May. The church as an organization and some of its members, including Pastor Henry Hildebrandt, also face $273,500 in fines, which have not been paid.

The court ordered the church must adhere to and post on the building a “COVID Safety Plan”, which includes masking indoors and allowing as many in the church as can safely distance. However, there are also several masking exemptions listed and proof of exemption isn’t required.

Justice Thomas said he was only concerned with the previous words and actions of Pastor Hildebrandt and “what he has said with regard to (pandemic safety) legislation and encouragement of non-compliance.”

“None of us want to walk back in to proceedings about this.”

Posted in News
  • nobody

    I have noticed that the “church” has started a fund raiser to pay for their fines.
    On their fund raiser web page they state that all donations are Tax Deductible.
    Well that’s fine, many small donations claimed as tax deductions, would be hard to audit by Revenue Canada . My concern is with how those donations are used by the “church”.
    There were fines levied against the Corporation, and against the persons acting as “pastors”. If the Corporation pays the Fines levied against the “pastors” those payments should be considered Taxable Benefits subject to Personal Income Tax. The fines paid by the Corporation should be considered Taxable Income and taxed as such. I have no doubt that a thorough tax audit will be carried out on this “church” and it’s agents.
    Anything less would be leaving the Canadian Tax Payers and The Government open to a charge of “Aiding and Abetting Convicted Criminals”.

    • BLC1

      Thank you for pointing this potential (?probable) misuse of “charitable” funds.

      • This is me

        Just thought I should share this with you, as well. The person above made a very ignorant comment. They do not know anything about the law. That isn’t how non-profits work. There is no corporation that isn’t the church and therefore any donations made would be tax deductible to the donor and to use at the church’s discretion for whatever needs the church has. They have raised most of the money and it is stated very clearly for what the donations will be used, therefore it is entirely up to the donor and they chose to make that donation. The only way to change this would be to try to get the laws changed, and it would not affect this as the laws are what they are now and any new legislation would only affect things from the point the new laws go into effect. Before rushing off trying to change this, the laws don’t just affect this church, it affects every non-profit in the country, hospitals, NGOs, children’s charities, everything. So… maybe just relax and let them do as they are legally allowed to do.

    • This is me

      That isn’t how non-profits work. There is no corporation that isn’t the church and therefore any donations made would be tax deductible to the donor and to use at the church’s discretion for whatever needs the church has. They have raised most of the money and it is stated very clearly for what the donations will be used, therefore it is entirely up to the donor and they chose to make that donation. The only way to change this would be to try to get the laws changed, and it would not affect this as the laws are what they are now and any new legislation would only affect things from the point the new laws go into effect. Before rushing off trying to change this, the laws don’t just affect this church, it affects every non-profit in the country, hospitals, NGOs, children’s charities, everything. So… maybe just relax and let them do as they are legally allowed to do.

  • nobody

    It seems “thisisme” has little knowledge of Tax Law, and it’s ramifications.
    Churches are considered non-profit corporations, and thus tax exempt.
    There are however stringent rules applied as to how money is excluded from taxation.
    All monies must be used for Charitable, or Religious purposes.
    Monies can not be used to personally benefit members of the corporation.

    Financial Penalties were incurred by the Corporation, and the Pastors, when they defied Court Orders. Contempt of Court penalties were applied.
    Financial costs were incurred by the criminals when they hired Lawyers to defend them in Court.
    Fines and Legal costs of the Pastors, if paid for by the “church” will be deemed taxable benefits subject to personal income tax.

    All of those costs can not be deemed spending for Charitable, or Religious purposes.

    Contempt of Court is a Crime.
    Crime doesn’t pay.
    Criminals should pay Income Tax.

    I’m sure the CRA will sort this all out.

    Sent from the Covid-19 HotSpot that is Aylmer.