The Municipality of Chatham-Kent and Chatham-Kent police have not yet asked the Ontario Attorney General to step in and close down local churches that continue to disobey the provincial stay-at-home order, but that could change.
Chatham-Kent Chief Administrative Officer Don Shropshire said asking for a court ordered shut down of the Old Colony Mennonite Churches in Chatham-Kent that keep holding illegal services and gatherings could be considered but he must first discuss it with Chatham-Kent police.
Shropshire said Chatham-Kent police are the lead in dealing with this matter and he'll raise the issue with them to determine if tougher enforcement measures is something to be put on the table.
"Having a requirement to go to court and place an order is definitely something to be considered," said Shropshire. "The police would have to determine whether they had enough space to be able to continue to enforce or to escalate the situation or whether they felt it was time to move forward but that would be an assessment they would have to make."
Spokesperson for the Ministry of the Attorney General Brian Gray has told Blackburn News that Ontario has not commenced any civil proceeding regarding this matter because it has not been asked to intervene.
Chatham-Kent police said they're weighing all enforcement options to bring local churches into compliance.
"We continue to work with our community partners (CKPH, Municipal Bylaw Enforcement Team and CK Legal) regarding the management of churches who are repeatedly defying the Stay-at-Home orders. We are committed to the health and safety of our community, as such we are reviewing other enforcement options," said Police Chief Gary Conn. "As this is an active police investigation, no further information will be released at this time."
The three Old Colony Mennonite Churches in Chatham-Kent have racked up a total of 13 charges in five months. The Wheatley Church has had ten members charged, Dresden has had two, and Charing Cross has had one.
The Attorney General's office has already forced the closure of at least two defiant churches in Ontario. Judges ordered court injunctions to close the doors at the Church of God in Aylmer and Trinity Bible Chapel in Kitchener.
