The trial pitting the Christian group Harvest Ministries International against former Tourism Minister Caroline Proulx began Monday morning at the Quebec City courthouse.
The British Columbia-based group is challenging the Quebec government’s cancellation of its “Faith, Fire, Freedom” conference, which was scheduled to take place in June 2023 at the Quebec City Convention Center.
Its lawyers will argue that Proulx violated the Charters of Rights and Freedoms when she ordered the Convention Center to cancel the rental contract.
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The minister justified her decision by citing her disagreement with the organization’s beliefs on abortion. She felt that the event was contrary to the “fundamental principles of Quebec.” .
Premier François Legault supported her decision, stating that “anti-abortion groups should not be allowed to hold large events in public institutions.”
The government argues that the right to freedom of religion and non-discrimination applies only to individuals, not to legal entities.
For its part, Harvest Ministries has called Quebec’s intervention a “liberticidal assault” and is seeking more than $200,000 in compensation.
The group, which admits to defending “pro-life political beliefs,” argues that its gathering in Quebec City was not an anti-abortion event.
–This report by La Presse Canadienne was translated by CityNews
