OTTAWA – The Liberal government’s contentious new anti-hate legislation, Bill C-9, officially titled the “Combatting Hate Act,” has successfully passed through the House of Commons. The bill, which proposes significant changes to how Canada handles the public promotion of hatred and extremist imagery, was approved late Wednesday night. It now moves to the Senate, the upper house of Parliament, for further review and debate.
The legislation secured passage with the critical support of the Bloc Québécois, while both the Conservative Party and the NDP voted against it. The turning point for the bill’s success came when the Liberals agreed to a major demand from the Bloc Québécois: the removal of long-standing legal protections for religious expression within hate speech laws. Specifically, the bill eliminates the “good faith” defense, which previously shielded individuals from prosecution if their statements were based on a sincere interpretation of religious texts or beliefs.
Under the new provisions, the intentional public display of symbols associated with terrorism or genocide—such as the Nazi swastika—will become a criminal offense. Additionally, the act creates “safe access zones” to protect individuals entering schools, places of worship, and community centers from intimidation. While the government argues these measures are necessary to protect vulnerable communities from a rising tide of extremism, critics argue the scope of the bill is dangerously broad.
The Conservative Party and various religious organizations have voiced strong opposition, labeling the move an “assault on religious freedom.” They warn that by removing the religious exemption, the government is opening the door for the criminalization of traditional religious teachings and peaceful dissent. Civil liberties groups have also raised concerns that “unpopular” but non-violent opinions could now be targeted under the law.
In response to the backlash, Justice Minister Sean Fraser emphasized that the law is not intended to criminalize faith or the private practice of religion. He maintained that the threshold for “hatred” remains high, targeting only speech that reaches an extreme level of vilification and dehumanization. As the bill heads to the Senate, it is expected to face intense scrutiny regarding its potential impact on the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms.
