In 2023, Harvest Ministries International (HMI), a Christian organization based in British Columbia, planned to hold its “Faith, Freedom, Fire” conference at the Quebec City Convention Centre from June 23 to July 2.
Although the conference program did not include presentations about abortion, Quebec Minister of Tourism Caroline Proulx directed the Société du Centre des congrès de Québec to cancel HMI’s rental agreement because of the organization’s publicly known beliefs about abortion.
Minister Proulx made no secret of her reasons. She publicly stated that she had instructed the chief executives of organizations under her authority that such events would no longer be permitted in government-owned venues because they were “against the fundamental principles of Québec.”
Former Quebec Premier François Legault publicly supported the decision at the time, stating, “We’re not going to allow anti-abortion groups to put on big shows in public spaces.”
The cancellation occurred only weeks before the conference was scheduled to begin and resulted in an estimated financial loss of approximately $450,000.
Lawyers warned the government that the cancellation violated fundamental freedoms
On June 5, 2023, lawyers funded by the Justice Centre sent a legal warning letter to the Government of Quebec demanding that the rental agreement be reinstated.
The letter argued that the government’s actions violated the freedoms of expression, religion, and association protected by the Charter. It also pointed out that the conference itself contained no abortion-related presentations and argued that the government’s actions resembled the arbitrary abuse of state power condemned by the Supreme Court of Canada’s landmark decision in Roncarelli v. Duplessis.
Pastor Art Lucier of Harvest Ministries International stated at the time: “Everyone has the right to express their convictions and deeply held values, even if they are in the minority or unpopular. In Quebec, as in the rest of Canada, state arbitrariness, censorship, and discrimination have no place.”
The Quebec government refused to reinstate the rental agreement.
Lawyers challenged the government’s decision in court
Lawyers funded by the Justice Centre then filed a constitutional challenge in the Superior Court of Quebec on behalf of Harvest Ministries International.
The lawsuit argued that the government violated the organization’s freedoms of expression, religion, and association under the Charter by denying access to a publicly owned facility because government officials disagreed with the organization’s beliefs.
During examinations conducted in May 2024, constitutional lawyer Olivier Séguin questioned former Minister Proulx and her Chief of Staff before a Superior Court judge. The evidence explored the reasons behind the cancellation and the government’s decision-making process.
Case examined whether governments may deny access to public facilities based on viewpoint
The trial was originally scheduled for November 2025 but was later rescheduled and proceeded before the Superior Court of Quebec from February 23 to 25, 2026.
Lawyers funded by the Justice Centre argued that governments cannot deny religious or other organizations access to publicly owned venues because officials disagree with the organizations’ beliefs. They further argued that Canadians must be free to exercise their constitutional freedoms collectively through organizations.
Constitutional lawyer Olivier Séguin stated: “Freedom of association can never be defended if individuals cannot defend their rights through organizations.”
He also stated: “Freedom of expression should not be confined to expressing ideas favored by the government.”
Decision expected soon
The Superior Court reserved its decision following the conclusion of the hearing. A judgment is expected in late July or early August 2026.
Court ruled the Quebec government violated the Charter
On Friday, July 31, 2026, the Superior Court of Quebec ruled that the Quebec government had violated Harvest Ministries International’s freedoms of expression, religion, and association protected by the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms.
The Court found that former Minister Proulx acted without legal authority when she directed the Convention Centre to cancel the conference because of the organization’s beliefs about abortion. It concluded that she exercised government power arbitrarily by denying Harvest Ministries International access to a publicly owned venue because officials disagreed with its viewpoint.
The Court rejected the government’s argument that the cancellation could be justified because some members of the public opposed the organization’s beliefs. Instead, the judgment affirmed that governments cannot exclude organizations from public facilities merely because their views are controversial or unpopular.
The Court awarded Harvest Ministries International $30,000 in punitive damages against former Minister Proulx personally and ordered the Government of Quebec to pay the organization’s legal costs.
Constitutional lawyer Olivier Séguin stated, “This decision confirms that governments cannot use public facilities to favour some viewpoints while excluding others. The Charter protects every Canadian’s freedom to express their beliefs and to associate with others, regardless of whether those beliefs are popular with the government.”
