A religious non-profit organization established by an American Christian musician, whose concert was canceled in Moncton last year, is taking legal action against the city. The City of Moncton rescinded permits in July for a performance by Sean Feucht that was scheduled to occur in a public park on the riverfront. Burn 24/7 Canada, the non-profit founded by Feucht, filed a notice of action in Moncton court on August 4, alleging that the city’s halt to the “musical worship show” violated the organization’s freedom of expression rights.
The organization claims that the cancellation breached rights outlined in section 2(b) of the Charter of Rights and Freedoms, emphasizing that these infringements are significant and fundamental to Canadian democracy. Burn 24/7 Canada argued that the cancellation was not justified and stemmed from the perception of Feucht’s conservative Christian values and support for the former U.S. President.
Feucht, a Christian missionary and singer known for his controversial views, organizes events across Canada and the United States. His “Let Us Worship” tour, described in court documents, aims to bring Christian worship and the message of the Gospel to various cities. The City of Moncton cited concerns about the event’s compliance with facility codes and security, leading to the permit revocation just two days before the scheduled show.
The organization is seeking $50,000 in damages, asserting that the abrupt cancellation forced them to relocate the event to a settlement north of Fredericton. Burn 24/7 Canada incurred additional costs for insurance, outreach materials, and logistics due to the sudden change in venue. Despite complying with city requests and providing necessary information, the organization claims that the cancellation had a significant financial impact, as attendance at the new location fell short of expectations.
The lawsuit filed by Burn 24/7 Canada has not yet been addressed by the courts, and the City of Moncton declined to comment, stating that the matter is under legal review. Feucht’s show faced similar cancellations near Halifax and Charlottetown last year, prompting legal actions in Quebec City as well. The organization’s lawyer emphasized the importance of upholding rights to discourage future governmental interference with controversial speakers.