On May 22, The Democracy Fund will seek to stay a ticket issued to Montreal Church after a worship service was disrupted by violent protesters.
TORONTO: Last year, the City of Montreal issued the Ministerios Restauración Church a $2,500 ticket for hosting a Christian worship service featuring U.S. musician Sean Feucht. Protesters attempted to shut down the worship service. The protest became violent when protesters deployed a smoke bomb inside the church.
Police then responded and charged the Church with a bylaw infraction, alleging that the Church violated municipal bylaws related to event permits and zoning.
The Democracy Fund (TDF) lawyers disputed the ticket in Montreal municipal court and filed an application in the Quebec Superior Court to have the Church acquitted. TDF lawyers argued that the City's conduct violated the congregants' Charter rights to freedom of religion, expression, and assembly.
After losing its motion to dismiss the application at the Quebec Superior Court, the City continued to argue that the ticket matter at the Municipal Court should proceed despite the Superior Court decision.
On Friday, May 22, TDF lawyers will return to Municipal Court to argue that the ticket matter should be stayed pending the outcome of the Superior Court application.
TDF executive director, Mark Joseph, said, "Our position is that the Quebec Superior Court has taken jurisdiction over this matter since there are serious constitutional issues involved when the government punishes a church for holding a worship service. We're hopeful that the Municipal Court will issue a stay until the higher Superior Court rules on these issues."
About The Democracy Fund:
Founded in 2021, The Democracy Fund (TDF) is a Canadian charity dedicated to constitutional rights, advancing education, and opposing religious discrimination. TDF promotes constitutional rights through litigation and public education, and supports an access-to-justice initiative for Canadians whose civil liberties have been infringed by government lockdowns and other public policy responses to the pandemic.