Rimouski mayor's attempt to ban La Meute event leads to human rights complaint

A far-right group that believes radical Islamistsare endangering Quebec culturesays it has filed a human rights complaint against the city of Rimouskiover what it contendsis discrimination based on the group'spolitical beliefs.

SylvainBrouillette, a spokesperson for La Meute or Wolf Pack told CBC Newsthat the group wants financial compensation and an apology, after the municipality's last-minute cancellationof the group'sreservation at a local community centre earlier this week.

"Whether it's based on political convictionsor race, it's no different," said Brouillette.

"It's discrimination, and we think our rights were violated."

Brouillette said La Meute's aims are to promote state neutrality, freedom of speech and democracy.

He said the non-binding motionpassed in the House of Commons last March condemning Islamophobia is proof there are radical Islamists at work in Canada.

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La Meutehas sponsored a series of talksthis summer by AndrPitre, a self-styled "socio-political commentator" whose themes focus onimmigration and freedom of speech.

Pitre's talk in Rimouski was scheduled to take place at the Nazareth Community Centreon Aug. 1.

At the last minute,Mayor Marc Parent stepped in to cancel the group's reservation at the municipally owned centre.

"We'reproud and open to immigration and diversity," Parent told CBC'sQuebec AMearlier this week, and he said thecentre would not be used to disseminate values that were not in line with thoseof the city.

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He also said the eventposeda security issue.

"Renting a room like this in an event where you actually need physical protection, you can understand that it's a community centre and as far as I'm concerned, the two of them don't match," he said.

The event went ahead anyway about 20 people showed up ata municipalpark in the evening to hear Pitre speak, with members of La Meute providing security.

Parent said since the conference did proceedon municipal property, no rights were violated.

Saint-Colombanalso says no

The Laurentians town of Saint-Colomban, just west of Saint-Jrme, also cancelled a reservation at its local community centre after discovering a link to La Meute.

The town's communications officer, Maxime Dorais, said the event, planned for today, was booked by someone who said they belonged to the Association in Support of Victims of Terrorist Acts or Le Club AVAT.

Under Quebec's business registry, La Meute and the Le Club AVAT du Qubec are both run by Patrick Beaudry, a former soldier who lives in Stoneham-Tewkesbury, north of Quebec City.

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Dorais told CBC News that employees with the town found an advertisement for the event online, which displayed the wolf paw imprint which La Meute has adopted.

"Political activities are not authorized" at the recreation centre, Dorais said, so the town cancelled the reservation.

Brouillette said it's too early to say if the group with make a complaint to the human rights commission about Saint-Colomban's refusal to rent space.

Case is valid: Charter rights veteran lawyer

Constitutional lawyer Julius Grey saidthe role of human rights legislation is to "defend the unpopular" and Brouillette's complaint to Quebec's human rights commission is well-founded.

"A group opposed to our most cherished values has a right to be defended unless they stray into the area of hate," said Grey.

A spokesperson for thecommission said because complaints are confidential, she couldn't confirm whether anyone from La Meute did indeed file one.

Four out of 743 complaints filed in 2016-1017 were due to alleged discrimination based on political affiliation.

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