Written By Lianne Rood, MP Middlesex-London
Canadians from all religious backgrounds are free to preach and live out their beliefs thanks to the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, which guarantees freedom of conscience, religion, expression, and assembly. This cherished document is more than words on paper; it is a living promise that the state will not dictate what citizens may believe or say about ultimate questions of truth and morality. It marks a clear distinction between Canada and regimes that police, punish, or selectively permit religious expression. It is one of the reasons so many people from around the world choose to make Canada their home.
Today, that legacy is being tested. The Liberal Party, bolstered by the Bloc Québécois, is advancing measures that would weaken long-standing protections for religious speech. Parliamentarians are currently debating Bill C-9, legislation that, among other changes, would repeal key Criminal Code provisions protecting those who speak “on a religious subject or…based on a belief in a religious text.” Without the existing safeguards for those acting “in good faith” – that is, reasonably and without malice – preaching certain doctrines or reading from sacred texts could, in practice, be treated as hate propaganda. This risks turning what has always been lawful religious teaching into a potential criminal offence.
Canadians should view this with grave concern. As C-9 moves through the House of Commons, the government is also entertaining a broader, more subjective definition of “hate” that could capture any speech the government deems offensive or harmful. This is not a minor technical adjustment; it represents a shift from punishing explicit incitement to violence, toward policing unpopular or traditional beliefs. It is, quite frankly, a slap in the face to the spirit of our Charter, which presumes that free citizens can debate, disagree, and even offend one another without calling in the criminal law.
The implications if C-9 passes cannot be sugar-coated. By working with the Bloc to repeal the religious defence, the Liberals are opening the door for faith leaders – and indeed any Canadian – to face investigation, prosecution, and even jail time for sharing their sacred texts.
A broad range of faith and civil liberties organizations, including the Canadian Conference of
Catholic Bishops, the Canadian Civil Liberties Association, the Muslim Association of Canada, the Evangelical Fellowship of Canada and others, have already raised the alarm.
Conservatives have tabled legislation such as Bill C-265 to keep places of worship secure and to target genuine threats of violence. C-9 is nothing short of government overreach, seeking to legislate deeply held religious beliefs of Canadians.
My Conservative colleagues and I will continue to fight this bill at every step. Please share this article and message with your faith leaders and communities. I would also encourage you to reach out to Liberal Members of Parliament and demand they withdraw Bill C-9 from parliament. Together, we will preserve religious freedom in Canada!
