Bill C-373 (Historical)

An Act to amend the Criminal Code (promotion of hatred or antisemitism)

This enactment amends the Criminal Code to eliminate as a defence against wilful promotion of hatred or antisemitism the fact that a person, in good faith, expressed or attempted to establish by an argument an opinion on a religious subject or an opinion based on a belief in a religious text.

Justice

[Martin Champoux, Bloc, Drummond, QC]

Mr. Speaker, I am going to have to listen to that again. It did not seem to me like an answer to the question.

Hate speech is supposed to be a crime, period. Either we believe that or not. Quebec is asking that the religious exception protecting hate speech in section 319 of the Criminal Code be repealed. The timing is good, because the Bloc Québécois's Bill C‑373 does exactly that. It is the only bill to do so. It conveys a clear principle that deserves clear support.

Will the government finally get behind the Bloc Québécois to amend section 319 of the Criminal Code and abolish the religious exemption?

[Martin Champoux, Bloc, Drummond, QC]

Mr. Speaker, Rassemblement pour la laïcité stands united with the Quebec government. Both are calling for the government to remove the religious exemption in the Criminal Code that allows people to spread hate speech without consequence.

The Liberals have said they are, and I quote, determined to find solutions that meet the needs of all Canadians. Luckily enough, the Bloc Québécois can help them out. Bill C‑373 does exactly that, and it is supported by 66% of Canadians and 75% of Quebeckers.

Will the government finally commit to supporting our bill?

Environment and Sustainable Development

[Charlie Angus, NDP, Timmins—James Bay, ON]

Madam Speaker, the member was speaking about Bill C-373. I would like to ask him about Bill C-372.

António Guterres, the head of the UN, has called fossil fuel companies the “godfathers of climate chaos”. He said they are moving us to a living hell and that countries and governments have to stop acting as “enablers”. Part of that, for Guterres, is a ban on fossil fuel advertising, as it is a threat to human health and a threat to the health of the planet.

Would the member support Bill C-372, which would limit fossil fuel advertising? It is a direct threat to human health.