The City of Calgary has withdrawn charges against a pizzeria accused of violating several bylaws during the COVID-19 pandemic, including not requesting proof of vaccination status from patrons. According to The Democracy Fund (TDF) news release, Without Papers Pizza was charged in 2021 after undercover inspectors were able to buy food and stay in the restaurant without showing proof of vaccination. The restaurant owner filed a constitutional challenge, and the court date was set for Nov 15, as per a social media post from the owner, Jesse Johnson. The City of Calgary was reached for comment by The Epoch Times but did not respond immediately.
As a result of the pizzeria’s business license suspension, it went out of business, TDF noted. The lawyer for Johnson told The Epoch Times that it was a bittersweet outcome. Mr. Johnson and Without Papers Pizza had their charges dismissed in court, but the prosecution and campaign to close the restaurant caused immense hardship. Families were torn apart, bankruptcy occurred, homes were lost, an iconic Calgary business vanished, and community and friendships suffered. The lawyer also criticized the poorly made and misguided vaccine passport program, arguing that there was no industry consultation before it was implemented and no accommodation for businesses.
Moreover, Rejman noted that the government lost money trying to enforce the program and that tax revenue was forfeited in the pursuit of enforcement of an unlawful program, and the closure of a business where no COVID-19 transmission occurred. Johnson’s lawyers argued in the constitutional challenge that the bylaws he was charged with violating were found to be invalid by the Court of King’s Bench. A court decision found that the regulations were invalid because they were made by the cabinet and not the chief medical health officer.