The Liberal government’s new anti-hate bill, which Conservatives opposed due to an amendment removing the religious defence to hate speech, has passed the House of Commons and will now head to the Senate.
Bill C-9, also known as the Combatting Hate Act, passed third reading late on March 25 with the support of the Bloc Québécois, while MPs from the Conservative, NDP, and Green parties voted against it. The bill passed with 186 “Yeas” to 137 “Nays.”
The bill would create new criminal offences associated with intimidation and obstructing access to places of worship. The bill also seeks to create a new offence for intentionally promoting hatred through the public display of certain symbols like Nazi, Hamas, or Hezbollah flags….