Canada Passes Controversial Hate Speech Bill
On June 17, Canada’s parliament approved a hate speech bill that some argue undermines religious freedom by eliminating legal protections for individuals citing their beliefs, which could leave them vulnerable to criminal charges.
Bill C-9 serves as a comprehensive reform of the criminal code, intended to address “propaganda of hate, hate crimes, and access to religious or cultural sites.” Notably, it repeals a provision that allowed for “bona fide” religious exemptions for statements that might otherwise be classified as hate speech in Canada. Conservative politicians have voiced concerns about the bill both prior to and following its passage, which now awaits Royal Assent.
The bill first emerged in September and aims to define offenses as the “display of certain symbols in public aimed at deliberately promoting hatred against identifiable groups,” focusing on attributes like religion, sexual orientation, gender, age, race, and ethnicity. It also seeks to remove defenses based on expressing opinions on religious matters in cases of intentionally promoting hatred or anti-Semitism.
Specifically, it repeals sections 319(3)(b) and 319(3.1)(b) of the Criminal Code, which provided defenses for hate speech offenses. This included certain circumstances where statements might reflect a “bona fide attempt to establish an opinion on a religious subject or based on religious scripture.”
With the removal of these provisions, some lawmakers worry that discussing or summarizing traditional biblical views on sexual orientation could be viewed as unprotected speech. Conservative MP Brad Redekopp has called the bill “a dark day in Canadian history,” asserting it attacks religious freedom and removes long-standing protections for those expressing sincere beliefs.
Redekopp emphasized that the Conservative Party consistently opposed the bill, vowing to continue fighting until religious freedoms are upheld. Meanwhile, Conservative MP Andrew Lawton criticized the Liberal Party and the Bloc Quebecois for rejecting his motion to withdraw the legislation, suggesting they are neglecting to protect freedom of religion and expression.
Lawton pointed out that the Freedom Bloc’s proposed amendment could potentially criminalize segments of sacred texts such as the Bible, Koran, and Torah. He opposed this encroachment on freedom of expression and religion, encouraging others to join in the fight to protect these rights.
Mark Miller, a Liberal MP, remarked during an October committee session that quoting parts of the Old Testament could be seen as “good faith,” but he expressed doubt over such interpretations, citing clear instances of hateful language against homosexuals in religious texts. He suggested that some conditions should perhaps allow for prosecutorial discretion in these cases.
Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre asserted that the C-9 amendment risks criminalizing not just specific biblical verses but also those found in other religious texts. He has labeled the bill an “attack on expression and religion” and accused Liberal ministers of advocating for the criminalization of politically incorrect religious teachings.
Once it receives Royal Assent, the new law will take effect 30 days later. Notably, the defenses erased by the C-9 amendment had been invoked only a handful of times—and all those attempts were unsuccessful, according to the Canadian Evangelical Alliance. They highlighted that no Canadian court has ever concluded that the Bible itself promotes hate.
