Canadian Christian organization Harvest Ministries International is suing the Quebec government, the Quebec Ministry of Tourism and the Quebec City Convention Centre after a worship event was abruptly cancelled due to the group holding pro-life views.
The lawsuit was filed by the Justice Centre for Constitutional Freedoms (JCCF) on behalf of the ministry at the Superior Court of Quebec.
Harvest’s Faith, Fire, Freedom Rally was set to take place in Quebec City between June 23 and July 2, 2023, with the ministry expecting 1200 people to show up each day for large-scale prayer meetings, musical performances and presentations.
However, less than a month before the event was set to take place, the rental agreement with the convention centre was terminated. Coalition Avenir Quebec (CAQ) Tourism Minister Caroline Proulx ordered the convention centre’s CEO to bar the Christian group amid it holding pro-life views.
Unlike other private event venues, the Quebec City Convention Centre is a crown corporation of the Quebec government.
Proulx told reporters she was disallowing events like Harvest’s rally because they go “against the fundamental principles of Quebec”.
“We are a pro-choice government, so we need to be consistent.”
Proulx’s comments were echoed by Quebec Premier Francois Legault, who said, “we’re not going to allow anti-abortion groups to put on big shows in public places.”
While Harvest is unapologetically pro-life, they said the event had nothing to do with abortion and that the event did not have any programs related to abortion.
“We admit without apology that Harvest holds pro-life positions. But, contrary to what politicians and the media have said, the Rally had nothing to do with being against abortion,” said Harvest Ministries leader Pastor Art Lucier.
“It was intended to be a Christian event of reconciliation between Canada’s founding peoples,”
In the lawsuit, Harvest is claiming damages for ending their rental agreement without notice, for the unconstitutional and unjustified infringement of its Charter freedom of expression and its right to be free from religious discrimination.
They are seeking a total of $212,647; including $137,647 to cover financial losses, $25,000 in moral damages and $50,000 in punitive damages.
The lawsuit alleges that what took place was a case of “pure arbitrariness, based on the intimate convictions of people who have been temporarily entrusted with the levers of power.”
It also calls the actions of Proulx and the convention centre “abusive,” adding that it “testifies to their malice and bad faith, and their intention to harm Harvest.”
Harvest said it was then unable to find another venue, amid 47 other establishments turning them down. This caused the group to cancel the event.
JCCF’s Director of French Canada Olivier Séguin said in a press release that “Indeed, the Minister’s actions are contrary to the rule of law. What we have here is politicians, temporarily entrusted with the levers of power, using state power arbitrarily to impose their own beliefs and worldview on citizens.”
“The reasons given by government decision-makers are so far removed from the principle of equality, and therefore from the rule of law, that they border on the irrational.”
JCCF president John Carpay added that “It is simply not acceptable that anyone should suffer discrimination at the hands of the government on account of religion or political opinion. We take governments to court to ensure that governments respect the fundamental rights and freedoms of all Canadians.”
The Quebec City Convention Centre declined to comment as the matter is before the courts. Neither Proulx nor Legault’s office responded to a request for comment.
Harvest Ministries previously made headlines for defying British Columbia’s church lockdowns, causing it to rack up thousands of dollars worth of fines.
