The Minister of Tourism, Caroline Proulx, and the Quebec City Convention Center are summoned, by formal notice, to reconsider the decision taken to “unilaterally terminate” a rental contract for premises to hold the “Rallye Feu, Foi et Freedom”, qualified as an anti-abortion event by the Quebec government.
The notice of termination sent does not invoke “any valid legal basis”, it is argued in the formal notice obtained by The duty.
The rally is not an “anti-abortion” event, reads the missive sent Monday on behalf of the promoter, the Christian organization Harvest Ministries International. And even if it were, such a decision to ban such an event from the Convention Center and all similar properties of the provincial Crown would be abusive, discriminatory, and unconstitutional because it is contrary to the Charters which protect the freedom of expression and religion.
The event was to be held in Quebec from June 23 to July 2.
The promoter, Harvest Ministries International, established in British Columbia, had reserved premises in January at the Center des congrès de Québec, a Crown corporation.
But Caroline Proulx demanded the cancellation of the event, Radio-Canada reported last Friday. The Convention Center complied with this request and sent the termination notice on June 2, more than 4 months after the signing of the contract.
“It’s against the fundamental principles of Quebec. […] This type of event will not take place with us,” said Mr.me Proulx last week, a position that later received public endorsement from Premier François Legault.
“You have attached the label ‘anti-abortion’ to an event that had nothing of the sort”, is it reproached in the missive: no speech, representation, projection or theme of this kind was on the program, is it detailed.
These statements and the termination of the contract “strangely recall the facts of Roncarelli v. Duplessis,” writes Harvest Ministries International lawyer Mr.e Samuel Bachand, who evokes there a famous decision of the Supreme Court of Canada in matters of discrimination and freedom of religion.
While the current online description of the event makes no reference to abortion, the Harvest Ministries International website makes it clear that it wants to end it, even pointing out that the legality of pregnancy terminations has made the woman’s womb ” the most dangerous place for a child in Canada. »
The promoter considers that this termination of contract will cause him considerable material damage, whereas he “must now, in the middle of the high season, find a replacement venue for the rally, close to hotels and restaurants where reservations and deposits have already been made. »
He estimates — on a preliminary basis — his material damages at more than $450,000, not counting the damages, punitive or otherwise, that could be claimed for violation of the fundamental rights protected by the Charters.
On his behalf, Mr.e Bachand summons the CEO of the Center des Congrès and the minister to withdraw the notice of termination and restore the rental contract “as is” by Thursday. Otherwise, legal proceedings may be initiated, he writes.
Support and questions for the CAQ government
Last week, the Parti Québécois, the Liberal Party and Québec solidaire all supported the government’s decision.
PQ leader Paul St-Pierre Plamondon, however, qualified his position on Wednesday, without however going so far as to contradict his deputy Pascal Bérubé, who had unreservedly supported Caroline Proulx’s decision.
“There currently seems to be confusion between each party’s position on abortion on the one hand, and each party’s position on freedom of speech and assembly on the other,” he wrote on Wednesday. on social networks.
Mr. St-Pierre Plamondon asked the government to clarify the criteria that led to the decision to cancel the convention center rental contract.
“My party unreservedly supports the right to abortion, that’s one thing. But should it allow the government to now give itself the power, on an arbitrary basis, to determine who can gather and express themselves in our society? »
The Liberal leader, Marc Tanguay, refused to advance on the criteria that would allow the government to avoid being accused of making arbitrary decisions regarding access to public buildings.
“Access to abortion, free choice is a fundamental value,” he said. It is not for the government to provide them with a forum, and in this case the minister was very well advised. »
With Alexandre Robillard