After its first-annual pro-life banquet dinner was cancelled by Delta Hotels Quebec following threats from pro-choice activists and movements just three days before the city’s March for Life, Quebec Life Coalition is now looking to adapt how it operates future events in the face of ongoing local push back.
Newsroom (04/06/2025 11:05 , Gaudium Press) The Quebec Life Coalition (QLC) is rethinking its public advocacy strategy after facing significant opposition to its recent pro-life events. The group’s first annual Rose Dinner gala, scheduled just before Quebec’s March for Life, was abruptly canceled by Delta Hotels Quebec following pressure from pro-choice activists. The hotel backed out after receiving threats, leaving the QLC scrambling to find an alternative venue.
Georges Buscemi, president of the QLC, said the incident reflects a broader hostility toward pro-life voices in Quebec. “This wasn’t just a one-time thing—it’s part of a pattern,” he explained. The cancellation came after an anti-fascist Instagram account urged followers to bombard the hotel with complaints, leading staff to pull the plug on both the dinner and 30 reserved rooms.
Despite the setback, the March for Life went ahead on May 30, drawing between 600 and 700 participants. However, the event faced its own challenges. Police denied the QLC permission to set up a stage, citing logistical concerns, which Buscemi said left attendees more vulnerable to harassment. An estimated 500 to 600 counter-protesters gathered outside Quebec’s National Assembly, and volunteers dismantling equipment were heckled by demonstrators who stayed until the very end.
The QLC considered legal action against Delta Hotels for breach of contract but ultimately opted to secure a last-minute alternate venue, which was kept anonymous to avoid further backlash. Buscemi criticized what he called Quebec’s “illiberal” political climate, pointing to comments from Martine Biron, Quebec’s minister for women’s status, who had previously expressed disapproval of the march.
Looking ahead, the QLC plans to adapt its approach. This includes shifting to shorter, mobile marches with speeches delivered while walking, rather than static rallies. The group also aims to strengthen security measures and work with vendors who are less susceptible to activist pressure. Buscemi emphasized the need to challenge what he described as Quebec’s “valueless secularism,” arguing that freedom of expression requires institutions to stand firm against intimidation.
Delta Hotels Quebec has not responded to requests for comment on the cancellation. As the QLC regroups, its leaders acknowledge the growing challenges of advocating for pro-life causes in an increasingly polarized environment. “We’re seeing a new kind of illiberalism in Quebec,” Buscemi said. “And we have to be prepared to meet it.”
- Raju Hasmukh with files from Catholic Register
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