P.A. church fined $14,000 for violating COVID-19 guidelines

The Full Gospel Outreach Centre in Prince Albert has been issued a $14,000 fine for violating public health orders and provincial COVID-19 guidelines.

On Wednesday, the Saskatchewan Health Authority declared a multi-jurisdictional outbreak of COVID-19 stemming from a series of outreach centre events held in Prince Albert from Sept. 14 to Oct. 4.

At least 25 cases of COVID-19 have now been linked to the outreach centre.

Prince Albert Mayor Greg Dionne called the fine levied against the church “appropriate.”

“I’m saddened that we had to take that action that people were blatantly not following the rules,” Dionne told paNOW.

He added the outreach centre’s actions had “tarnished everybody,” particularly houses of worship that have been carefully adhering to provincial guidelines.

paNOW has reached out to the centre’s pastor, Rev. Vern Temple, for comment and has not heard back.

As part of its daily media release on COVID cases on the weekend, the Government of Saskatchewan said public health authorities were seeing increasing transmission rates as a result of contravention of public health orders and guidelines, particularly as a result of public and private gatherings.

There can be very serious consequences for not following public health orders, including fines in cases where negligence or misconduct have been found. Fines may be $2,000 for individuals and $10,000 for corporations, plus a victim surcharge.

The government’s statement added “as a number of contact investigations conclude, it is anticipated that fines will be issued in cases where negligence and misconduct have been found. This weekend, a $14,000 fine was issued to a corporation for non-compliance with the Public Health Act Order and (Re-Open Saskatchewan) Guidelines for Places of Worship.”

Alison Sandstrom, paNOW