A coalition of civil society and faith community advocates raised alarms on Wednesday, criticizing what they describe as the "ever-expanding" scope of the federal government's proposed anti-hate legislation. Their concerns come as a parliamentary committee begins a detailed review of the bill, with a key amendment to remove a longstanding religious defence from Canada's hate speech laws now on the table.
Committee Review Sparks Controversial Amendment
Members of Parliament on the House of Commons justice committee have started a clause-by-clause review of Bill C-9, legislation initially presented by Justice Minister Sean Fraser in September 2023. A pivotal moment in this process involves voting on a series of amendments, including one championed by the Bloc Québécois.
This specific amendment seeks to eliminate a religious defence currently enshrined in section 319 of the Criminal Code, which deals with wilfully promoting hatred and antisemitism. The proposed change was not part of the bill's original text. According to reports, the Bloc Québécois secured a deal with the governing Liberals to include this removal in exchange for supporting the bill's passage.
Faith Groups Voice Strong Opposition
The potential removal of the religious exemption has drawn sharp criticism from several prominent organizations. Khaled Al-Qazzaz, executive director of the Canadian Muslim Public Affairs Council, expressed deep concern that the bill's focus, initially on protecting spaces around places of worship, is now broadening in "unprecedented" ways.
His council, alongside the National Council of Canadian Muslims, the Canadian Council of Imams, and the Christian Legal Fellowship, has formally stated its opposition to stripping away the defence. The current legal provision states that a person who, in "good faith," expresses an opinion "on a religious subject or an opinion based on a belief in a religious text" should not be convicted under these specific hate speech laws.
Al-Qazzaz warned that erasing this protection could have a chilling effect, potentially limiting how religious texts are discussed and taught within religious schools and in public discourse.
Political Maneuvering and Committee Drama
The debate took a procedural turn during the justice committee's meeting on Tuesday, December 2, 2025. The session was adjourned at the request of the Liberals, with the Bloc Québécois's agreement, before the controversial amendment was officially presented. Committee amendments are typically confidential until they are formally tabled for discussion.
This move prompted confusion and frustration from the Opposition Conservatives, who left the committee meeting. The Conservatives have vowed to fight the proposed change, denouncing it as an attack on "religious freedom." They stated they were prepared to sit for extended hours to debate the amendment and others that were pending.
The unfolding situation highlights the complex balancing act in crafting legislation to combat hate while safeguarding fundamental freedoms, setting the stage for further intense debate in Parliament.
