She was denied entry for her mother's funeral. Now she's taking the N.L. government to court

A woman originally from Newfoundland and Labrador is launching a constitutional legal challenge against the province's COVID-19 travel restrictions after she was barred from attending her mother's funeral.

"People who are grieving the loss of a loved one, such as a mother, father, sister, brother, a child, should not be subjected to this level of cruelty bya government entity," said Kim Taylor, whose mother diedlast Tuesday.

Eileen Taylor died of natural non-COVID-19-related causes on May 5, at home. A sudden and traumatic passing made worse, her daughter said, by a provincial government decision to deny her access to her home province to honour her mother's life.

With the backing of the Canadian Civil Liberties Association and local defence lawyer Rosellen Sullivan, Taylor will bring the challenge to the Supreme Court of Newfoundland and Labrador on Tuesday.

"It's happening, frankly, because it seems to be the minister of health's attitude that if you don't like it, sue us," said Sullivan."Well, it appears this is our only option at this moment."

Kim Taylor lives in Nova Scotia but says she visits her home province several times a year. She began the process to returnless than 12 hours after the death of her mother, and immediately devised a plan to self-isolate upon arrival.

She submitted an exemption form online requesting access to the province, and sent another followup later that day to ensure the request was received.

• Workers from outside N.L. exempt from COVID-19 isolation order at MUN's science building

"When someonedies, there are certain things of a time-sensitive nature, and my goal was to get to the province as soon as possible to get into isolation,"Taylor said.

By end of day Friday, Taylor received the email she was waiting for, with the decision she was not expecting.

"Basically 'condolences, you're denied,'" she said."'You are not permitted.'... It blatantly laid out, 'You are not permitted to enter Newfoundland."

"It's difficult enough grieving your mother and trying to figure out logistics of everything, but then to wait 3 business days ... I was absolutely devastated all over again."

Charter challenge

The Canadian Civil Liberties Association, a non-profit group in Canada devoted to the defence of civil liberties and constitutional rights, has already raised concerns over Newfoundland and Labrador'samendment to Bill 38 the Public Health Protection and Promotion Act.

The controversial amendment was passed in the House of Assembly on the day Eileen Taylor died. It gives power to police to detain individuals found in non-compliance with public health orders, with the possibility of removing people who are not primary residentsfrom the province entirely, among many more sweeping powers.

• Canadian Civil Liberties Association looking to challenge Bill 38 amendment

A government public health order prohibits entry to the province to anyone except thosetravelling for work, relocating for work, and primary residents. Some exceptions can be made for those travelling to Newfoundland and Labrador for the purposes of taking care of health needs of a family member.

During Friday's public briefing, Premier Dwight Ball said the province has received over 2,000 exemption requestsand public health officials are "very busy turning them around very quickly."

• Woman originally from N.L. denied exemption to travel home for mother's funeral

Numbers from May 4 to 9 showed far more exemptions were granted than denied.

"I love my home province. I am a Newfoundlander through and through," said Taylor. "I don't feel like the province has let me down but I certainly feel like the government has let me and my family down."

Where's the justice minister?

Sullivan has questioned where Justice MinisterAndrew Parsons has been in the discussion over Bill 38, given the broad justice implications.

The Civil Liberties Association wrote a letter to Parsons this week with its concerns over the amendments, noting the new rules only came into place seven weeks after a health state of emergency was called, and that the number of COVID-19 cases is quite low.

"The attorney general hasn't even acknowledged[the letter],let alone responded to it," Sullivan said."Where is the attorney general? Where is the minister of justice?"

On Friday afternoon, a spokesperson with the department said the minister had responded to the letter Friday.

Sullivan is prepared to argue that the travel ban caused an unjustifiable breach of Taylor's charter rights.

Earlier this week,Daina MacNeilspoke to CBC News about being denied access to the province to attend her mother's funeral.

Her exemption, however, was granted after speaking publicly.

Sullivan said the guidelines for who gets in and who doesn't appear to be arbitrary.

• Canadian Civil Liberties Association looking to challenge Bill 38 amendment

Asked about guidelines Friday, Chief Medical Officer of Health Dr. Janice Fitzgerald said exemptions are granted for those who have lost a loved one, if they have a self-isolation plan.

Taylor said she's taking a page out of her mother's book and is doing what she would have done in the same circumstance.

"My mother was determined and she was fierce and she would say, 'Do what you need to do to make this right.'"

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