Mr. Speaker, with many issues like this, it behooves the members opposite to stand up and actually read the Criminal Code and its definition of hate. Their approach to these issues is to fearmonger and to shed light on situations that are unlikely to see the light of day in a court of law.
The Criminal Code defines hate as:
communicating statements in any public place, [inciting] hatred against any identifiable group where such incitement is likely to lead to a breach of the peace
We also have Criminal Code provisions preventing the “wilful promotion of hatred”. This bill would give clarity to the definition of hate.
In this country, we should not stand up and permit hate. Those who spread hate need to be accountable for it, and law enforcement needs a tool to police it.