Bill C-9 is an urgent threat to free expression in Canada.

The Carney government’s so-called “Combatting Hate Act” would make sweeping changes to Canada’s hate speech and hate crime laws. While prejudice and discrimination should be condemned, the proposed law gives the government new power to subjectively determine which words and ideas are acceptable – a direct threat to the Charter right to freedom of expression. The bill was debated at Justice Committee, and amendments removed the defence of good faith religious opinion.

Canadians need to know that Bill C-9:

• Creates a new standalone hate offence. Even minor regulatory breaches could be turned into serious crimes if labelled “motivated by hatred.”
• Criminalizes the display of certain symbols. Outlawing specific images will not end hate, but drive it underground and make it harder to confront.
• Threatens religious discourse. Removing defences for good-faith religious expression risks criminalizing honest discussion based on deeply held beliefs.

If it proceeds as written, Bill C-9 will chill debate, silence dissent, limit discussion on controversial moral questions, and erode one of the most fundamental freedoms in our democracy.

The CCF urges Parliament to reject Bill C-9 in its current form. Canadians are not safer when controversial speech is driven underground. The best answer to hate is more speech – not censorship.