Quebec Charity to Make Case in Court Hearing That Religious Freedom Violated

An upcoming court case involving a Quebec-based charitable organization is an important test of religious freedom, says the Justice Centre for Constitutional Freedoms. Mind and I/Shutterstock

A charity group in Quebec is challenging a municipal bylaw that resulted in a member being ticketed for going door to door to talk about suicide prevention with residents.

The city of Waterloo, located about 90 kilometres east of Montreal, says the individual was soliciting, which is against its bylaws.

However, Groupe Jaspe say they were not asking for money, but looking to help those at risk of suicide.

The group was founded by Claude Tremblay in 1999 after his son committed suicide.

Groupe Jaspe’s goal is to knock on every door in Quebec’s cities and towns to help those who may be contemplating suicide. About 70 volunteers have helped the group reach 50 cities and 771 villages.

The Justice Centre for Constitutional Freedoms (JCCF), which is representing Groupe Jaspe, says the bylaw violates the Charter right to freedom of religion. It notes that a 2003 lawsuit allowed freedom of religion, and applies in the current case.

In that case, the City of Blainville ticketed 17 Jehovah’s Witnesses, considering them door-to-door salespeople. The group won the case in 2001, and a 2003 appeal upheld the decision.

The judge said the city was attacking the freedom of religion of the Jehovah Witnesses by prohibiting them from engaging in discussions with others about their beliefs. He also said it impinges on the religious freedom from residents of the city who may want to engage with Jehovah Witnesses.

However, JCCF says the Waterloo city prosecutor disagrees, and says things are different since Bill 21, Quebec’s secularism law, passed in 2019. The law is currently being challenged in the Supreme Court of Canada

“Since [Bill 21] came into force, religious groups have felt that their rights were being flouted by the public authorities, but always in an unofficial manner,” Groupe Jaspe attorney Oliver Séguin said in a JCCF press release.

“For the first time, a municipal body seems to be invoking the [law] formally to justify the degradation of rights of a religious nature. If the Court were to rule in its favour, it would seriously infringe the religious freedoms of all Quebecers.”

The Epoch Times attempted to contact the municipality of Waterloo for comment but did not hear back by publication time.

The bylaw in question is Regulation G-100, which refers to nuisances, peace, and public order.

Waterloo’s city prosecutor told media in October 2024 that the case involved a book sale that violates the bylaw. At the time, the city indicated it wanted to see a guilty verdict.

Tremblay faced a similar challenge in 2015, when he was accused by a police officer of soliciting in the Municipality of Sainte-Thecle. Tremblay told the court he does not solicit money, but does accept donations. He also shares a book he wrote with those who donate more than $20.

The municipal court ruled that the bylaw was not enforceable, and Tremblay was not guilty of violating it.

According to JCCF, Quebec case law upholds freedom of religion and the right of people to share their message door to door.

“This case is an important test of religious freedom in Quebec and Canada,” it says.

Tremblay’s latest court challenge begins on Feb. 10.

The Canadian Press contributed to this article.