#Canada – Canadian Liberal minority government passes controversial Bill C-9 “Combatting Hate Act” that removes religious exemption clause, despite opposition from religious leaders.
Bill C-9 provides reforms to the Canadian Criminal Code related to hate-motivated crimes, including increased penalties, prosecution changes, and a new definition of “hatred”.
The Liberal minority government was able to pass the bill, despite opposition from both left-wing and right-wing opposition parties, due to a compromise with the left-wing French Canadian separatist party to remove a religious exemption clause.
The clause, now removed, provided exemptions “if, in good faith, the person expressed or attempted to establish by an argument an opinion on a religious subject or an opinion based on a belief in a religious text.”
The removal of this clause prompted opposition from the Canadian Conference of Bishops and other non-denominational Christian leaders. The removal was also opposed by numerous Muslim and Orthodox Jewish groups.
Bill C-9 also creates a new criminal offence for intimidating and/or obstructing access to places of worship, as well as schools and community centres. Notably, a similar legislation was to be passed in the provincial government of British Columbia later this year.
The purpose of Bill C-9 was meant to combat an alleged rise in “hate” towards religious groups, specifically religious minorities in Canada. However, now the law has come under scrutiny as compromising religious freedoms, which is a constitutional right in Canada.
References: https://www.parl.ca/legisinfo/en/bill/45-1/c-9
Image: Elizabeth May, incumbent Green Party leader, who voted against the proposed legislation.
