Religious Exemption Dispute Puts Bill C-9 on Hold in Parliament

The future of Canada’s federal anti-hate legislation, Bill C-9, is now uncertain after a reported deal between Justice Minister Sean Fraser and the Bloc Québécois bypassed the Prime Minister’s Office, sources say.

Bill C-9 aims to strengthen Canada’s Criminal Code by introducing new offences for intentionally promoting hatred against identifiable groups, including the use of hate- or terrorism-related symbols in public. It would also create specific penalties for hate-motivated crimes and tighten protections against harassment outside places of worship.

In a minority Parliament, the Liberals require support from other parties to pass the bill. Currently, it is under clause-by-clause review in the House of Commons justice committee, which includes Liberal, Conservative, and Bloc Québécois MPs.

Bloc Québécois Leader Yves-François Blanchet has demanded that the legislation remove the religious exemption from Canada’s hate speech laws. He argues that religion could be misused to shield acts of hatred, including antisemitism and homophobia. Sources indicate that Fraser’s office struck this agreement without securing approval from the Prime Minister’s Office, causing the bill to stall.

A last-minute justice committee meeting has been scheduled for Tuesday to continue reviewing the bill, after previous meetings were canceled. Fraser’s office denied any friction with the Prime Minister’s Office, stating that internal discussions are a normal part of negotiating legislation in a minority Parliament.

The proposed changes have sparked concern among religious communities. Leaders from Muslim, Catholic, and other faith groups warn that removing the religious exemption could restrict legitimate religious expression or even criminalize faith-based speech. Meanwhile, Jewish advocacy groups have called for swift passage of the bill, citing rising levels of hate and intimidation that they say demand stronger legal responses.

Conservatives oppose both the bill and the Bloc’s proposed amendment, arguing it threatens Canadians’ rights to practice their faith freely. Bloc MPs involved in the negotiations expressed frustration, saying deals with ministers should be reliable and honored.

With Parliament set to adjourn for the holidays later this week and not reconvening until late January, the fate of Bill C-9 and the religious exemption amendment remains unresolved, leaving Canada at a crossroads between protecting citizens from hate and safeguarding religious freedoms.