The government of Prime Minister Mark Carney is officially abandoning efforts to reintroduce provisions allowing human rights complaints regarding online hate speech, a move that reverses a key initiative of the previous Trudeau administration. The controversial measure, known as section 13 of the Canadian Human Rights Act, was originally repealed under former Conservative Prime Minister Stephen Harper. Former Prime Minister Justin Trudeau had sought to revive it as part of his government's broader online harms agenda, but that legislation never passed.
No Timeline for New Online Safety Bill
The government has not yet set a timeline for introducing a new online safety bill. The last attempt was Bill C-63, which proposed creating a new regulator for social media platforms and amending federal human rights legislation to target the communication of hate speech, including online content. Under that bill, individuals could file complaints with the Canadian Human Rights Commission, even without disclosing their identity to the accused party. Opposition Conservatives criticized the change as censorship, arguing that its language was overly broad and could lead to a flood of complaints, including frivolous ones.
Government Confirms Reversal
When asked whether the federal government intended to reintroduce the section into the Canadian Human Rights Act, Jeremy Bellefeuille, a spokesman for Justice Minister Sean Fraser, responded with a clear “no” in a statement on Wednesday. Fraser, who oversees human rights legislation, told the parliamentary justice committee earlier this week that the upcoming online harms bill would not be “a simple copy and paste job of the previous legislation.” He added that Canadian Heritage Minister Marc Miller, now responsible for the file, is approaching the issue with a fresh perspective.
Miller has indicated that the government is “very seriously” considering a ban on social media for minors as part of its online safety agenda. He has convened a roundtable of digital safety experts to explore the idea, including the potential inclusion of AI chatbots. However, no specific timeline has been provided for the introduction of a new bill.
Advocates Push for Action
Advocates across civil society, including children's health organizations, have emphasized the urgent need for the government to present new legislation. They argue that children in Canada are less protected than those in countries like the United Kingdom and Australia, which already have online regulators to address the spread of harmful content. The call for action comes amid rising concerns about online hate speech and its impact on vulnerable populations.
Opposition Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre, whose party has been the most vocal critic of the Liberals' digital and privacy agenda, accusing the government of advancing censorship tactics, has said his caucus is exploring the idea of a social media ban for minors but has not yet taken a formal position. The debate over online safety continues to evolve as the government seeks a balanced approach between protecting free expression and curbing harmful content.
