Mr. Speaker, I rise today to speak to Bill C-9, the combatting hate act, a vital piece of legislation that would strengthen the Criminal Code to protect Canadians from acts of hatred, intimidation and obstruction in their communities.
The bill introduces amendments to address two urgent areas: first, the intimidation and obstruction of people accessing community spaces and, second, hate-motivated crimes. It would also clarify what constitutes hate and ensure law enforcement can respond quickly and effectively. Too many Canadians feel unsafe because of who they are, how they worship or where they gather. We have seen a rise in anti-Semitism, Islamophobia, anti-Sikh hate, anti-Black racism, homophobia and transphobia. These are the realities faced by our neighbours, our families and our communities.
About 5,000 hate crimes were reported to police last year, but we know that most of these incidents are never reported, which means that the true number is far higher. Every one of these crimes is an attack not just on individuals but on the values of equality, dignity and respect that we hold dear as Canadians. Bill C-9 introduces targeted reforms that would give law enforcement agencies the tools they need to act while fully protecting the charter rights that Canadians value, including freedom of expression, freedom of peaceful assembly and freedom of protest.
The legislation is built on six pillars. The first pillar is a new obstruction offence. It would be illegal to block or interfere with lawful access to spaces such as religious institutions, cultural centres, schools, seniors' residences or cemeteries. No Canadian should face barriers when they are going to pray, taking their child to school or attending a cultural celebration. For example, it would be a crime to block the front of a synagogue to restrict access for worshippers or to set a fire at the entrance of a school. At the same time, peaceful protest remains fully protected. This is not about creating so-called bubble zones. Peaceful protests, chanting or holding signs is allowed. Only intentional obstruction or intimidation would be considered illegal.
The second pillar is a new intimidation offence. This would target behaviour designed to instill fear in people accessing those same spaces. We have seen cases in which masked individuals stood outside mosques or shouted threats at parents outside a religious school. These acts are intimidation, not protest, and they have no place in Canada.
The third pillar is a new hate crime offence. If someone commits any federal offence, whether under the Criminal Code or another law, and they do it out of hatred for a particular group, it would now be treated as a hate crime. This is about making sure hate-motivated actions are met with the seriousness that they deserve. The bill would also make it an offence to publicly display hate or terrorist symbols to promote hatred; it would remove the Attorney General consent required for hate propaganda charges so that police could move more quickly. When someone vandalizes a gurdwara out of hate or waves a Nazi flag at a rally, Canadians expect law enforcement to respond swiftly and decisively. Bill C-9 would ensure that this will happen.
The fourth pillar is to codify the definition of “hatred”. The bill would provide clarity so that police and courts know what is and what is not covered. Hatred means strong dislike or hostility toward a group, going beyond being rude, offensive or hurtful. This clear definition will help make the law fair and consistent across Canada.
The fifth pillar is streamlining hate propaganda charges. Right now, police need the Attorney General's consent before laying such charges. This step often delays justice. With Bill C-9, that barrier is removed, so law enforcement can act faster and communities are better protected.
The sixth pillar is a new prohibition on displaying hate and terror symbols. The new offence is carefully targeted. It applies only when such symbols are displayed with the intent to promote hatred against a particular group. The list of prohibited symbols is narrow and precise: the swastika and other symbols principally used by or associated with terrorist organizations listed under the Criminal Code.
Canadians should know this does not criminalize opinions or ordinary protest symbols; it is about only a small, closed list of hate and terror symbols displayed to promote hatred. This approach ensures the law is both clear and enforceable.
Let me summarize why this legislation is so important. Too many Canadians feel unsafe in their own neighbourhoods, their own schools and their own places of worship. Bill C-9 makes it clear: Canada will not tolerate hate. We will not tolerate intimidation. We will not tolerate symbols of violence and terror being used to spread fear.
At the same time, this bill respects charter rights. Peaceful protest remains lawful. Political expression remains lawful. This is about stopping deliberate acts of hate, not silencing voices.
In my riding of Surrey Newton, I see every day how diversity makes us stronger. People of all backgrounds, whether Sikh, Muslim, Hindu, Jewish, Christian, Buddhist or many others, and even those who do not practise, live side by side and work together with respect, but I also hear from families who are worried when they see hate crimes on the rise. Parents are anxious about sending their children to school, and seniors are concerned about attending their places of worship. Canadians should never have to live with that fear.
This legislation equips law enforcement and prosecutors with the tools necessary to respond effectively to intimidation, obstruction, hate crimes and hate propaganda. It protects individuals, strengthens community safety and upholds the values that define Canada. I call on all members of this House to support Bill C-9 and stand with us in protecting the rights, freedoms and safety of all Canadians.