NCC cancels upcoming Gatineau, Que. concert by controversial U.S. musician

A controversial U.S. musician was set to perform in Gatineau on Sat, but the National Capital Commission cancelled the performance. CTV’s Austin Lee reports.

The National Capital Commission (NCC) has cancelled an upcoming concert by controversial Christian musician Sean Feucht in Gatineau, Que., following other Canadian cities who have called off his performances.

“The NCC will not be issuing an event permit that had been requested for Jacques-Cartier Park North following consultation with the Gatineau Police Service and due to concerns about public safety and security for and around the event,” the NCC said in an email to CTV News Ottawa.

On social media, Feucht describes himself as a missionary, musician, author and “founder of global movements.”

He unsuccessfully ran for congress in 2020 as a Republican candidate in California and has faced criticism for speaking out against abortion rights and the LGTBQ2+ community.

He has also grown in popularity within the Make America Great Again (MAGA) movement as a prominent figure with nearly 600,000 followers on Facebook and another 166,000 followers on X.

Speaking to Gatineau residents on Wednesday, some expressed frustration over the planned concert.

“My issue isn’t that his values don’t align with mine or that I have a difference of opinion politically. It’s that it’s a public space,” said Melissa, a Gatineau resident who asked CTV News Ottawa not to include her last name.

“If it was in a private arena or a private room, I wouldn’t be upset by that. People have the right to exist, and they have the right to say whatever they want to say as long as it falls within hate speech laws.”

Parks Canada revoked Feucht’s permit to perform at the York Redoubt National Historic Site in Halifax for similar concerns over safety and security.

He then found a different venue near Halifax to hold his event on Wednesday but permits to perform in Moncton, Charlottetown and Quebec City have also been reportedly revoked.

“Theses are worrisome messages. They’re very popular in the states. It’s popular to beat up on small minority groups as target victims. We saw that in the 1930s in other parts of the world, we just don’t feel that’s where Canadians want to go,” said lay minister David-Roger Gagnon with St. Paul’s United Church in Riverview New Brunswick.

“If this gentleman wants to promote that message, he’s welcome to do that in his own country. But in Canada, I don’t think those values resonate with us.”

Melissa expressed skepticism over Feucht’s claims on social media that pushback to his shows is rooted in anti-Christian bigotry.

“I’m Christian. Most of my friends are Christian,” she said.

“I don’t think there’s anything Christian about his public stances on women or marginalized groups.”

In a statement Thursday, Feucht said he is protesting policies enacted during the COVID-19 pandemic, which he claimed were biased against Christians.

“The Let Us Worship movement was born as an organic response to authoritarian COVID-19 lockdown policies - of which Canada ranked among the most oppressive. The pandemic is over, but the anti-Christian bias remains,” the statement said.

COVID-19 restrictions varied by province, but did include limits on public gatherings, including at places of worship for all religions. Restrictions were largely lifted by 2022.

Feucht said he would continue to seek out other venues to perform.

“We will not cower in the face of religious persecution - whether in America, Canada, or anywhere else. We will find places to pray. We will find places to praise. And despite the real risk of arrest, we will join our Canadian brothers and sisters to boldly declare: Let Us Worship!”

With files from The Canadian Press