The Liberal government leading Canada has introduced Bill C-9, the “Combatting Hate Act”, which is supposed to prevent hate crimes. Instead, the Bill C-9 threatens the Charter rights and civil liberties of all people in Canada. That includes any communities that the government wishes to help protect. Bill C-9 gives police discretionary powers to determine which symbols are hateful and what are protesters’ intentions. This will lead to more arbitrary arrests and disruptions of peaceful assemblies, potentially including labour union picketing. These new broad and discretionary powers, combined with increased jail sentences, will significantly undermine Canada’s fine record of free expression and dissent. Bill C-9 sends a chill amongst those who would otherwise take part in civil protests. Bill C-9 is highly alarming, especially in the context of the crackdown on Palestinian solidarity, anti-genocide, antiwar, anti-violence as well as pro-peace, pro-justice protests. The voices of Canadians have a right to be heard! Perhaps pols have not read our Charter of Rights and Freedoms. The hate laws in Canada have provided adequate protections for decades. Have we grown so thin-skinned we can’t ignore the Holocaust-deniers, the climate change-deniers, anti-immigrant voices, whatever? These agitators are mostly on the Internet to hear their own voices. By banning them, you’ve validated that their voices are real and not just in their in their heads. Sticks & stones worked in grade school and it still works now. Canada has not yet reached the level of denying free speech by broad SLAPP lawsuits and defining legitimate protestors terrorists as in the US, broaching its Bill of Rights. In the UK, govt has already breached the Magna Carta by banning Palestine Action. Bill C-9 appears to this author as just more toadying to the US. Our leaders may talk bif but introducing Bill C-9 in the Commons means they have no commitment to walking the walk. C-9 is assC-9!
