Quebec Court Finds Government Violated Charter by Cancelling Christian Event

The Superior Court of Quebec ruled that the provincial government breached the Charter of Rights and Freedoms when it cancelled a 2023 Christian gathering organized by Harvest Ministries International. The court held that Tourism Minister Caroline Proulx acted without legal authority, arbitrarily exercising power and denying the group access to a publicly owned venue because officials disagreed with its viewpoint.

Harvest Ministries sued for $80,000, alleging infringements of freedoms of expression, religion and association. The court awarded compensatory damages and ordered the minister to pay $30,000 in punitive damages, confirming that the cancellation could not be justified in a free and democratic society. The event, titled the “Faith, Fire, Freedom Rally,” was presented by the organization as a reconciliation gathering, not an anti‑abortion rally.