MPs remove religious exemption from hate-speech laws
MPs voted to remove a long-standing religious exemption to Canada’s hate-speech laws Tuesday after heated exchanges in the Commons and lobbying by religious groups to retain it. In a fiery Commons committee meeting, Liberal MPs supported an amendment to a bill tabled by the Bloc Québécois to remove the exemption, which has long been part of the country’s Criminal Code.
Bloc Quebecois MP Rheal Fortin’s Argument
Bloc Quebecois MP Rheal Fortin, who proposed the change to the bill, argued at committee that the exemption enables people to say hateful things that would otherwise be forbidden under the Criminal Code if they are based on a religious text. He emphasized the importance of fighting hate crimes and believed that removing the religious exemption was necessary for this purpose.
Conservative Opposition
Conservatives on the Commons justice committee vehemently opposed the move, expressing concerns about limiting religious freedom. They argued that the amendment could infringe on the rights of individuals to quote from religious texts without facing prosecution for hate speech.
Justice Minister’s Rebuttal
Justice Minister Sean Fraser defended the Bloc’s proposed change to the Criminal Code, stating that it would not pose a threat to religious freedom or the right to quote from religious texts. He reassured that the amendment would not affect existing protections in the Constitution for freedom of religion and freedom of expression.
Concerns from Religious Groups
Religious groups have been contacting MPs to express apprehension about the proposed amendment. Andrew Bennett from the Christian policy think tank Cardus raised concerns about the potential impact on religious freedom, highlighting the importance of maintaining exemptions that protect religious speech from government interference.
Anti-Hate Bill Details
The anti-hate bill, known as Bill C-9, aims to criminalize actions such as obstructing access to places of worship and promoting hatred towards religious and ethnic groups. The bill also includes provisions to combat the display of terror or hate symbols, with penalties of up to 10 years in prison for offenders.
Amendments to the Bill
During discussions on the bill, MPs voted to remove a reference to the swastika as a symbol of hate. This decision came after concerns were raised about the symbol’s historical and cultural significance beyond its association with Nazism. The bill still includes references to other designated terror symbols, aiming to address the glorification of hate groups in Canada.
