House of Commons passes Bill C-9 after heated debate, with critics raising concerns about potential impacts on faith-based speech.
By yourNEWS Media Newsroom
Canada’s House of Commons has approved new federal legislation addressing hate-related offenses, advancing Bill C-9 following a recorded vote that divided major political parties and prompted concerns from religious advocacy groups.
Members of Parliament voted 186–137 to pass Bill C-9, known as the “Combatting Hate Act,” with support from Liberal Party and Bloc Québécois members. MPs from the Conservative Party, New Democratic Party and Green Party opposed the measure. The legislation will now move to the Senate for further review.
An effort by Conservative lawmakers to revise the bill’s language shortly before the vote did not succeed, as shown in parliamentary proceedings shared in a House of Commons update. The bill had previously advanced through the report stage after debate was curtailed at the committee level.
The legislation has drawn criticism from advocacy organizations that warn it could affect the scope of religious expression. Campaign Life Coalition (CLC), a Canadian advocacy group, issued a statement following the vote expressing concern about the potential implications for faith communities.
“With the passage of Bill C-9 in the House, Christians and pro-life advocates will almost certainly face an entirely new level of hostility, as the door swings open to actual persecution under a cloak of supposed legality,” said David Cooke, the organization’s campaigns manager.
Cooke stated that while the bill is presented as targeting hate, religious leaders across multiple faith communities have expressed concern that it could be applied to beliefs and teachings related to “life, family, and faith.” He added, “We must prepare for the battle ahead,” urging supporters to remain committed to their beliefs.
Jack Fonseca, CLC’s director of political operations, said the next phase of debate will take place in the Senate, where he expects a challenging path for opponents of the bill. “The battle to defend religious freedom in Canada has now moved to the Senate,” he said, adding that he believes some senators may support measures that expand hate speech enforcement.
Fonseca called on Canadians to engage in the legislative process through outreach to senators and public advocacy. “We call upon all people of goodwill to flood senators with phone calls, emails, social media comments, and, if possible, personal visits,” he said, also encouraging prayer and fasting among religious supporters ahead of the Senate vote.
Criticism has also focused on an amendment to the bill that removed a religious exemption previously included in earlier drafts. Conservative MPs have called for that change to be reversed, arguing it alters how the law could be interpreted in relation to faith-based speech.
According to reporting by LifeSiteNews, some constitutional experts have raised concerns that the legislation could broaden enforcement authority, allowing officials to pursue cases involving speech deemed harmful or hateful.
The Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops also weighed in on the proposed changes, issuing an open letter criticizing the removal of the religious exemption and calling for its reinstatement.
The bill was introduced last year by Justice Minister Sean Fraser and is intended to strengthen Canada’s legal framework addressing hate-related conduct. As it moves to the Senate, lawmakers and advocacy groups on both sides of the issue are expected to continue debating its scope and potential impact.