I think you're correct in assuming that the awareness of the public with respect to section 176 is very weak. We'd argue with our colleagues at the Canadian Interfaith Conversation—which includes the Evangelical Fellowship—that robust religious dialogue in public is an important means to create that sense of safety that we've all been alluding to.
It was interesting that very soon after the Quebec City mosque incident, Premier Couillard came out very forcefully, publicly, and said that our “words matter”.
Respectful public discourse on faith and diversity is a really critical element of respect, freedom, and the protection for a multiplicity of religious and other identities. That kind of dialogue is something that's sorely lacking as xenophobia rears its ugly head. Public dialogue that's fully cognizant of religious and other identities, and respect of those identities, is a really critical thing.