Commentary
Canada’s Criminal Code should punish bad behaviour, not bad feelings. Canadians need protection from crime, not from offensive opinions that might be considered “hateful” by some but not by others.
Bill C-9, the government’s new hate crime legislation now being debated in the House of Commons, is fixated on further criminalizing feelings of hatred that criminals may have had when carrying out their crimes. Defining hate is near-impossible, as can be seen whenever politicians and judges attempt to do so.
Bill C-9 states: “For greater certainty, the communication of a statement does not incite or promote hatred … solely because it discredits, humiliates, hurts or offends.” The bill allows Canadians to express “disdain” and “dislike” without worrying about facing criminal charges, yet Canadians must be careful not to possess illegal emotions that involve “detestation” or “vilification.” It’s not “hate” to discredit, humiliate, hurt, offend, and dislike people; it is “hate” to detest and vilify people. Are we clear?…