Ottawa, ON, Canada (WNEWS CANADA) – Canada’s controversial Bill C-9, known as the Combatting Hate Act, is expected to pass the House of Commons in the coming weeks, setting the stage for a major shift in how hate-related offences are prosecuted under Canadian law. The legislation has sparked intense debate among lawmakers, civil liberties groups, and religious organizations over whether the bill strengthens protections against hate crimes or risks undermining freedom of expression.
Bill C-9 was introduced by the federal government in September 2025 and proposes several amendments to the Criminal Code aimed at strengthening Canada’s response to hate-motivated crimes and intimidation.
The bill has already passed first and second reading and is currently undergoing review by the House of Commons Standing Committee on Justice and Human Rights.
On Monday, the government introduced proceedings to end debates on the bill. The vote passed early Tuesday with a vote of 186-144, with the Bloc Québécois supporting the Liberals.
What Bill C-9 Would Do
According to the federal Department of Justice, the proposed law would create new offences and expand existing legal tools used to combat hate-motivated conduct.
Key provisions of the bill include:
- Creating a specific hate-motivated crime offence in the Criminal Code
- Criminalizing intimidation or obstruction of access to places of worship, schools, and community centres used by identifiable groups
- Allowing prosecutors to pursue hate-propaganda charges without requiring prior approval from the Attorney General
- Remove the Religious Exemption from the Criminal Code
- Codifying a clearer legal definition of “hatred” under Canadian criminal law
Supporters of the legislation argue these measures are necessary to respond to what the government describes as a growing number of hate-motivated incidents across the country.
Government officials say the proposed changes would allow law enforcement to intervene more quickly and effectively in cases involving hate propaganda or intimidation.
Political Divide in Parliament
Despite broad support among some advocacy groups, Bill C-9 has faced sharp criticism from opposition parties and civil liberties advocates.
Conservative MPs have criticized the legislation as a potential “censorship bill,” arguing it could criminalize legitimate political speech or religious expression depending on how the law is interpreted.
Concerns have also been raised about proposed amendments that could remove long-standing religious protections in the Criminal Code related to the promotion of hatred, prompting backlash from some faith-based organizations.
Justice Minister Sean Fraser has indicated the government may be open to clarifying language in the bill to ensure that reading religious texts or practicing faith would not be interpreted as promoting hatred.
Civil Liberties Concerns
Legal experts and advocacy organizations remain divided over the bill’s potential impact.
Some legal analysts warn that expanding hate-speech provisions could create uncertain legal thresholds and chill public debate if the definition of hatred is interpreted too broadly.
Others argue that existing Criminal Code provisions already cover many of the behaviours targeted by the legislation, raising questions about whether new offences are necessary.
However, several community organizations and anti-hate advocacy groups have urged Parliament to pass the bill, citing increased threats and intimidation targeting religious and minority communities across Canada.
Next Steps
If Bill C-9 passes the House of Commons, it would then move to the Senate for further review and debate before it could receive Royal Assent and become law.
Given the Liberal government’s minority position in Parliament, the bill’s final passage may depend on support from other parties, including the Bloc Québécois or New Democratic Party.
Regardless of the outcome, the debate surrounding Bill C-9 is expected to remain one of the most contentious legal and political issues in Canada’s current parliamentary session.
