Bill C-9

Combatting Hate Act

An Act to amend the Criminal Code (hate propaganda, hate crime and access to religious or cultural places)

Sponsor

Status

This bill has received Royal Assent and is, or will soon become, law.

Summary

This is from the published bill. The Library of Parliament has also written a full legislative summary of the bill.

This enactment amends the Criminal Code to, among other things,
(a) create an offence of wilfully promoting hatred against any identifiable group by displaying certain symbols in a public place;
(b) repeal the defence based on the expression of opinions on religious subjects or texts in relation to the offences of wilful promotion of hatred or antisemitism;
(c) create a hate crime offence of committing an offence under that Act or any other Act of Parliament that is motivated by hatred based on certain factors;
(d) create an offence of intimidating a person in order to impede them from accessing certain places that are primarily used for religious worship or by an identifiable group for certain purposes; and
(e) create an offence of intentionally obstructing or interfering with a person’s lawful access to such places.

Elsewhere

All sorts of information on this bill is available at LEGISinfo, an excellent resource from Parliament. You can also read the full text of the bill.

Bill numbers are reused for different bills each new session. Perhaps you were looking for one of these other C-9s:

C-9 (2021) Law An Act to amend the Judges Act

C-9 (2020) Law An Act to amend the Income Tax Act (Canada Emergency Rent Subsidy and Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy)

C-9 (2020) An Act to amend the Chemical Weapons Convention Implementation Act

C-9 (2016) Law Appropriation Act No. 1, 2016-17

Votes

June 17, 2026 Passed Motion respecting Senate amendments to Bill C-9, An Act to amend the Criminal Code (hate propaganda, hate crime and access to religious or cultural places)

June 17, 2026 Failed Motion respecting Senate amendments to Bill C-9, An Act to amend the Criminal Code (hate propaganda, hate crime and access to religious or cultural places) (amendment)

June 15, 2026 Passed Time allocation for Bill C-9, An Act to amend the Criminal Code (hate propaganda, hate crime and access to religious or cultural places)

March 25, 2026 Passed 3rd reading and adoption of Bill C-9, An Act to amend the Criminal Code (hate propaganda, hate crime and access to religious or cultural places)

March 25, 2026 Failed Bill C-9, An Act to amend the Criminal Code (hate propaganda, hate crime and access to religious or cultural places) (recommittal to a committee)

March 23, 2026 Passed Concurrence at report stage of Bill C-9, An Act to amend the Criminal Code (hate propaganda, hate crime and access to religious or cultural places)

Debate Summary

This is a computer-generated summary of the speeches below. Usually it’s accurate, but every now and then it’ll contain inaccuracies or total fabrications.

Bill C-9 proposes to amend the Criminal Code to criminalize obstructing access to religious and community spaces, establish a stand-alone hate crime offense, and prohibit the public display of hate symbols. Critics raise concerns regarding potential impacts on freedom of speech and religious expression.

Liberal

Strengthens hate crime laws: The Liberals support Bill C-9 to create a stand-alone hate crime offence and codify the Supreme Court's definition of hatred, providing law enforcement with clearer tools to address crimes motivated by prejudice.
Protects access to community spaces: The bill creates new offences for obstructing or intimidating individuals trying to access religious buildings, schools, and community centres, ensuring Canadians can gather and worship without fear of harassment or violence.
Bans public hate symbols: The legislation criminalizes the wilful public display of symbols associated with hate or terrorist entities when there is intent to promote hatred, effectively modernizing the law to protect communities from intimidation.
Safeguards religious and expressive freedoms: Members emphasize that the bill includes clear exemptions for religious practice and speech, requiring a high legal threshold of wilful intent for a promotion of hatred charge to apply.

Conservative

Restore the religious defence: The Conservatives strongly oppose the removal of the decades-old religious defence from the Criminal Code, arguing its deletion jeopardizes good-faith religious expression and undermines the constitutional balance of Canada’s hate speech laws.
Existing laws are sufficient: Members argue that current Criminal Code provisions already address hate crimes and genocide. They suggest the government should focus on enforcing existing laws rather than introducing redundant legislation that lacks political will for enforcement.
Protect freedom of expression: The party warns that the bill stifles debate, silences dissent, and risks criminalizing the citation of religious texts. They emphasize that while hate is real, it should not be combated with measures that infringe upon sincerely held beliefs.
Criticism of legislative process: The Conservatives condemn the government for rushing the bill through committee and limiting House debate. They highlight that the controversial removal of religious protections occurred without meaningful consultation or witness testimony from faith communities.

NDP

Risk to peaceful protest: The NDP opposes the bill because its vague language risks criminalizing peaceful protests and silencing legitimate dissent, potentially providing legal tools to further suppress Indigenous land defenders and activists.
Excessive law enforcement discretion: Members warn that creating offences based on subjective standards like "causing fear" grants too much discretionary power to police, which historically leads to the overpolicing and inequitable treatment of racialized and Indigenous communities.
Neglect of white nationalism: The party criticizes the bill for failing to address the violent activities of white nationalist movements, leaving vulnerable communities without the necessary tools to combat what the NDP identifies as Canada's largest source of hatred.
Rejection of increased sentences: The party disputes that increasing maximum sentences deters hate crimes, arguing instead for evidence-based policies focused on prevention, mental health care, education, and social stability to address the root causes of hate.

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Combatting Hate ActGovernment Orders

March 25th, 2026 / 6 p.m.

Liberal

Kevin Lamoureux Liberal Winnipeg North, MB

Mr. Speaker, we request a recorded vote, please.

Combatting Hate ActGovernment Orders

March 25th, 2026 / 6 p.m.

The Assistant Deputy Speaker John Nater

Call in the members.

(The House divided on the amendment, which was negatived on the following division:)

Vote #92

Combatting Hate ActGovernment Orders

March 25th, 2026 / 6:50 p.m.

The Speaker Francis Scarpaleggia

I declare the amendment defeated.

The next question is on the main motion.

If a member participating in person wishes that the motion be carried or carried on division, or if a member of a recognized party participating in person wishes to request a recorded division, I would invite them to rise and indicate it to the Chair.

Combatting Hate ActGovernment Orders

March 25th, 2026 / 6:50 p.m.

Liberal

Mark Gerretsen Liberal Kingston and the Islands, ON

Mr. Speaker, we request a recorded vote, please.

(The House divided on the motion, which was agreed to on the following division:)

Vote #93

Combatting Hate ActGovernment Orders

March 25th, 2026 / 7 p.m.

The Speaker Francis Scarpaleggia

I declare the motion carried.

(Bill read the third time and passed)

Combatting Hate ActGovernment Orders

March 25th, 2026 / 7:05 p.m.

The Speaker Francis Scarpaleggia

I wish to inform the House that because of the delay, pursuant to Standing Order 30(7), there will be no Private Members' Business hour today. Accordingly, the order will be rescheduled for another sitting.