Thank you, Mr. Chair.
I'll be brief. I take a different perspective from that of Mr. Scott. I think we owe it to those who believe in the Constitution and believe in freedom of speech, freedom of thought, and freedom of expression that section 13 is unsalvageable and it ought to be repealed.
I do want to address Ms. Boivin's comment, because she incorrectly cited section 319 of the Criminal Code. She stated that it did not include potential hatred against women.
I would read for her subsection 319(1):
Every one who, by communicating statements in any public place, incites hatred against any identifiable group where such incitement is likely to lead to a breach of the peace is guilty of
Subsection 319(2) uses the same language: “wilfully promotes hatred against any identifiable group”.
There are no limiting definitions of what an identifiable group is in section 319.
In section 318, the genocide provisions, she would be correct that identifiable groups are limited to groups that are distinguished by colour, race, religion, or ethnic origin, but there is no such limitation with respect to section 319.
So when she fears that section 319 could not be used, potentially, against an individual who incited hatred against women, she's incorrect.
Thank you.