The videos highlight growing tensions over lingering COVID-19 mandates and restrictions which have become increasingly unpopular as pandemic-related measures stretch into their third year.
Stefanson’s reversal on the use of heavy-handed government policies in the name of COVID follows shortly after two other Western premiers, Alberta’s Jason Kenney and Saskatchewan’s Scott Moe, also announced they were ending vaccine passports and mask mandates in their provinces earlier this week.
The province of Manitoba, citing the omicron COVID variant, will restrict churches that do not require its 'worshippers to be vaccinated' to 25 percent capacity or 25 people, 'whichever is lower.'
Dr. Brent Roussin announced last Friday in a press conference the new limits on the size of church attendance, and said that the new rules also mandate that those without the jabs cannot mingle with those who have it.
Manitoba Justice had issued a warrant against the pastor because he attended an anti-lockdown protest in Winnipeg in May that allegedly violated public health orders.
On October 1, the Manitoba legislature voted 30-20 against 'anti-free speech and pro-abortion' Bill 207. Proposed by the New Democratic Party (NDP), Bill 207 sought to criminalize pro-life demonstrations in front of abortion clinics.