Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada Sean Fraser speaks at a news conference on a new hate crimes bill in Ottawa on Friday, Sept. 19, 2025. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Justin Tang
Hate crime bill could criminalize protests, civil liberties’ group says
OTTAWA - The Canadian Civil Liberties Association says the Liberal government’s new hate crimes bill runs the risk of criminalizing peaceful protests.
Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada Sean Fraser speaks at a news conference on a new hate crimes bill in Ottawa on Friday, Sept. 19, 2025. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Justin Tang
OTTAWA - The Canadian Civil Liberties Association says the Liberal government’s new hate crimes bill runs the risk of criminalizing peaceful protests.
The bill, introduced Friday, would create new crimes of obstruction and intimidation aimed at protecting places of worship and institutions used by an identifiable group.
That includes schools, daycares and seniors’ residences, and the maximum penalty would be 10 years in prison.
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The civil liberties’ group says that penalty is very severe and could cause activists to stay silent.
It says the bill could affect tens of thousands of community spaces across the country.
The group says police can protect public safety using existing offences, such as mischief, intimidation, threats and harassment.Â
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 22, 2025.
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