Bill C-9 Townhall

Keeping the good‑faith defence and focusing on real, violent crimes instead of targeting fundamental freedoms.

Bill C‑9, the Combatting Hate Act, was introduced on September 19, 2025, and would make major changes to Canada’s hate‑crime laws. While protecting Canadians from real violence is important, parts of the bill have raised serious concerns, especially the government’s attempt to redefine “hate” in a way that is subjective and open to different interpretations.

In December 2025, Liberal and Bloc Québécois members of the Justice Committee approved an amendment to remove the “good‑faith religious belief defence.” The Supreme Court has recognized this defence as an important safeguard for freedom of expression and freedom of religion. Many witnesses told the committee that this defence is narrow and does not give anyone blanket protection, contrary to what some government members suggested.

Without this safeguard, Canadians who share or discuss their faith — including quoting sacred texts — could face legal uncertainty. Teachings from Christian, Jewish, Muslim, Sikh, or Buddhist traditions could be misinterpreted as hate simply because someone finds them offensive. Even former Liberal committee chair Marc Miller has said some religious passages could seem “clearly hateful.” My Conservative colleagues and I support keeping the good‑faith defence and focusing on real, violent crimes instead of targeting fundamental freedoms.

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