OTTAWA — Parliament has officially passed Bill C-9, sweeping new anti-hate legislation that officially categorizes the noose as a prohibited hate symbol under Canadian federal law.
Known as the Combatting Hate Act, the bill cleared its final legislative hurdle after the Senate adopted a crucial amendment to add the noose to the country’s banned list of hate and terror symbols. Advocates say the change addresses a critical omission, recognizing the object’s brutal history as a tool of racial terror and violent intimidation aimed primarily at Black Canadians.
The Black Opportunity Fund (BOF) strongly endorsed the passage of the bill, noting that the amendment bridges a long-standing gap in Canada’s Criminal Code. The organization highlighted a troubling trend in national security and safety data, pointing out that police-reported hate crimes across the country have doubled since 2019, with Black Canadians remaining the most frequently targeted group.
“For generations, Black Canadians have had to fight to have the realities of anti-Black racism recognized,” said Craig Wellington, CEO of the Black Opportunity Fund. “The inclusion of the noose in Bill C-9 is historic because it acknowledges one of the most enduring symbols of racial terror directed at Black communities.”
Wellington commended Justice Minister Sean Fraser, alongside cross-party MPs and Senators, for moving quickly to close the legal loophole. He emphasized that the amendment explicitly acknowledges both Canada’s history and the modern reality where nooses are still occasionally used in workplaces and public spaces to threaten Black individuals.
Beyond banning specific hate symbols, Bill C-9 introduces a comprehensive suite of reforms to the Criminal Code. The legislation establishes distinct, stand-alone hate crime offences, updates framework provisions surrounding hate propaganda, and creates severe penalties for individuals who block or intentionally prevent access to places of worship, cultural community centres, and religious schools.
While celebrating the legislative milestone, Black advocacy groups maintain that systemic change requires ongoing effort. Wellington noted that the bill is an important statement that Canada is prepared to confront anti-Black hate head-on, though substantial work remains to fully dismantle anti-Black racism nationwide.
The Combatting Hate Act received Royal Assent on Thursday and is scheduled to officially come into force across Canada in 30 days.
