Post by : Meena Ariff

The status of Canada’s proposed anti-hate legislation, Bill C-9, is now in limbo following an alleged agreement between Justice Minister Sean Fraser and the Bloc Québécois that reportedly circumvents the Prime Minister’s Office, according to sources.

Targeting hate crimes, Bill C-9 seeks to amend the Criminal Code by establishing new offences for the willful promotion of hatred against identifiable groups, including the public display of hate or terrorism-related symbols. It is designed to introduce specific penalties for hate-driven crimes and enhance protections against zoning harassment at places of worship.

As a minority government, the Liberals must rely on support from other parties to advance the legislation. Currently under a clause-by-clause evaluation in the House of Commons justice committee—which includes members from the Liberals, Conservatives, and Bloc Québécois—the bill faces significant scrutiny.

Bloc Québécois Leader Yves-François Blanchet is pushing for the removal of the religious exemption from Canada’s hate speech legislation, asserting that it could potentially facilitate the misuse of religion to justify hateful acts, including antisemitism and homophobia. Sources suggest that Fraser’s office facilitated this agreement without the Prime Minister's direct endorsement, leading to a standstill on the bill.

An urgent meeting of the justice committee is set for Tuesday to discuss the bill further, following canceled earlier sessions. Fraser’s office downplayed any discord with the Prime Minister’s Office, noting that internal negotiations are standard practice in a minority government setting.

The proposal has raised alarms among various religious communities. Leaders from Muslim, Catholic, and other faith groups caution that eliminating the religious exemption may hinder genuine religious expression and potentially criminalize faith-related speech. Conversely, Jewish advocacy organizations are pressing for the bill's quick enactment, referencing escalating hate and intimidation that necessitate robust legal frameworks.

Opposing the bill and the Bloc’s suggested modification, Conservatives contend that it undermines Canadians' rights to freely practice their religions. Bloc MPs involved in the talks expressed discontent, arguing that agreements with ministers should be trustworthy and respected.

With the parliamentary session concluding for the holidays this week and reconvening not expected until late January, the outcome of Bill C-9 and the contentious religious exemption remains in the balance, leaving Canada confronting the challenge of balancing protection from hate with the preservation of religious liberties.

#Canada News #Politics News