Published Jul 25, 2025<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n\n\n\n Article content<\/p>\n\n\n\n Elbows up against free speech! Sean Feucht, a Christian singer, preacher and Donald Trump enthusiast saw all six of his scheduled concerts in Eastern Canada cancelled in recent days<\/a>. All were scheduled to be held on public sites. Groups of citizens of unknown size demanded the shows be cancelled, and said they would protest if not, which is certainly their right. And as ever, when governments cave to a censorious mob, they sounded ridiculous.<\/p>\n\n\n\n t<\/p>\n\n\n\n In Halifax, where he was to perform at a national historic site, Parks Canada cited \u201cevolving safety and security considerations based on confirmation of planned protests (and) input from law enforcement.\u201d Charlottetown seemed to piggyback on that: \u201cEvolving public safety and security concerns.\u201d Moncton, N.B.: \u201cFollowing a thorough review, the event was found to be non-compliant with the city\u2019s code of conduct in city facilities.\u201d Vaughan, Ont., cited \u201chealth and safety as well as community standards and well-being.\u201d Gatineau, Que.: \u201cconcerns about public safety and security.\u201d Quebec City: \u201cthe presence of a controversial artist was not mentioned when the contract was signed.\u201d (Perhaps they should make people tick yes or no: \u201cAre you controversial?\u201d)<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n There is plenty that bien-pensant Canadians would object to on Feucht\u2019s record: He was fervently anti-lockdown, he deplores abortion, has said nasty things about drag queens. Rolling Stone reports<\/a> his security detail had included a notorious member of the Proud Boys. But you will notice that none of the statements from Canadian officials explain what specifically their actual problem is with the guy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n Do they really want us to believe that an anti-MAGA protest in Halifax might turn violent? And even if it did, why is that the performer\u2019s fault, worthy of cancellation?<\/p>\n\n\n\n e<\/p>\n\n\n\n Meanwhile, we had the usual chorus of politicians being breathtakingly insincere about free speech.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Halifax Liberal MP Shannon Miedema: \u201cI have the utmost respect for the value of free speech, (but) I do not believe this event aligns with Parks Canada\u2019s core values of respect for people, equity, diversity and inclusion, or integrity.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n To respect free speech rights, you first have to understand them. These two clearly do not.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Interestingly, Charlottetown at first seemed to understand its obligations. Its first reaction was very different<\/a>: \u201cFrom a legal standpoint we are limited in restricting access to public spaces,\u201d a statement read. Many constitutional lawyers would agree.<\/p>\n\n\n\n You\u2019ll often hear politicians say that government-owned spaces have a special obligation not to rent venues to people whose views don\u2019t reflect appropriate \u201cvalues.\u201d \u201cWhen it comes to public buildings, I believe we should hold ourselves to the highest standard,\u201d then Toronto mayor John Tory averred in 2019<\/a>, when the Toronto Public Library rented a stage to barely controversial feminist Meghan Murphy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n It\u2019s exactly the opposite. Government-owned venues are subject to the Charter. Privately owned venues, such as those Feucht ended up performing at instead near Halifax, Moncton and Charlottetown, are not. It would certainly be interesting to see someone mount a Charter challenge to these decisions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Article content<\/p>\n\n\n\n As is often the case with censorship, one of the primary achievements of these cancellations was to give a ton of free publicity to Feucht<\/a>. He\u2019s not exactly a household name even in the United States. Exactly one of his records has ever charted: at number 37 on Billboard\u2019s Christian albums, in 2016. His constituency is considerably smaller north of the border. I would never even have heard of him had these cities just let the shows go ahead.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Had we denied him entry to Canada, as many were calling for, it would have been an even bigger deal. It\u2019s also one of those things you could imagine Trump taking note of and retaliating \u2014 say, by banning godless Canadian bands from crossing the border and performing in the U.S.<\/p>\n\n\n\n And the crazy thing is, many Canadians would say, \u201cgood, they shouldn\u2019t be playing in the U.S. anyway.\u201d Canadian singer-songwriter Matthew Good received lavish praise for cancelling<\/a> his stateside shows recently \u2026 though he had only booked them in January, when Trump was already president.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It\u2019s a great pity that incoherence, on everything from free trade to live music, is the primary characteristic of Canada\u2019s response to the second Trump era. And there is no sign of it letting up.<\/p>\n\n\n\n National Post Chris Selley: Banning MAGA singer Sean Feucht, Canada slips further into Trump-ian incoherence Sean Fuecht is a much bigger name in Canada today than had governments just let his concerts happen Author of the article: By Chris Selley Published Jul … Continue reading ![\"Sean](\"https:\/\/smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital\/nationalpost\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/gettyimages-2178692441_297824647.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&w=288&h=216&sig=3QbkoEuBfpJVqp_O8aQs4g\")
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cselley@postmedia.com<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"