Canada’s Liberal government has quietly moved to strip Christians and other believers of longstanding legal protections for religious speech, raising alarm that pastors and faithful citizens could soon face criminal prosecution for teaching traditional doctrine.
Stripping Legal Protections for Religious Speech
Canada’s Criminal Code has long prohibited hate propaganda under sections 318-319, with courts defining “hatred” narrowly as vilification of “an intense and extreme nature.” Section 319(3)(b) provides a defense for statements made in good faith on religious subjects or based on religious texts. On December 9, Liberal and Bloc Québécois members of the Justice Committee voted to delete this religious-speech defense entirely. Religious-freedom scholars note the defense has never successfully shielded genuine hate propaganda, making its removal appear ideologically motivated rather than a response to any legal gap.
Backroom Deal with Quebec Separatists Drives Change
The Liberals govern without a majority and needed support from the Bloc Québécois to advance Bill C-9, their signature “Combatting Hate Act.” The Bloc conditioned its backing on repealing the religious defense, reflecting Quebec’s aggressive post-Catholic secularism that has already restricted religious symbols for public employees and public prayer. This political horse-trading has allowed a regional separatist party with fewer than three dozen seats to reshape federal criminal law affecting all Canadians. The arrangement underscores how minority-government dynamics can enable fringe partners to impose ideological demands that the governing party would not pursue on its own.
Liberals are tightening the noose around the necks of Christians in Canada – LifeSite
🍁 -cdnnews https://t.co/ujEOXpko46
— ToryNow (@torynowdotcom2) March 27, 2026
Broad Faith Coalition Warns of Criminalized Doctrine
The Canadian Council of Christian Charities, the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Canada Area Presidency), and Voice of the Martyrs Canada have all issued public statements urging Parliament to retain the defense or add explicit Charter-based safeguards. These groups warn that without clear protections, pastors teaching that marriage is between one man and one woman, or that biological sex is immutable, could face criminal charges if prosecutors or activists characterize such teachings as “hate.” The January 15, 2026 statement from Latter-day Saint leaders emphasized support for protecting vulnerable groups from genuine hate while cautioning that laws must not be misused to penalize sincere religious belief and speech.
Committee Pause Buys Time but Government Signals Intent to Proceed
After the Justice Committee resumed clause-by-clause review on January 26, 2026, it voted two days later to pause further debate, giving religious groups a reprieve to lobby for amendments. The Canadian Council of Christian Charities welcomed the pause as an opportunity for consultation with religious leaders and legal experts. Yet Liberal MP Sean Fraser indicated his party may limit debate to “make good on campaign commitments” and advance the bill. This suggests the government views Bill C-9 as a political priority, even as it faces sustained opposition from faith communities that cross denominational lines and represent millions of Canadians who cherish constitutional protections for conscience and worship.
What’s at Stake for Constitutional Freedoms
The Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms guarantees freedom of conscience, religion, and expression in sections 2(a) and 2(b). Removing the religious-speech defense without replacement language could put the Criminal Code at odds with the Charter, inviting years of costly litigation and uncertainty. More fundamentally, it sends a message that the state considers religious convictions suspect and negotiable. If Parliament can strip protections for good-faith religious expression in the name of combating hate, what other Charter freedoms might future governments trade away in backroom deals? For Americans watching the drift toward speech restrictions in other English-speaking democracies, Canada’s Bill C-9 is a cautionary tale about the fragility of constitutionally protected liberties when political expediency trumps principle.
Sources:
Canada’s Bill C-9: A Growing Threat to Religious Freedom – Hudson Institute
Proposed Restrictions on Religious Freedom: Bill C-9 – Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops
What’s in Canada’s Bill C-9, and Why Some Christians Are Concerned – Mission Network News
Bill C-9 Impact on Religious Expression in Canada – Canadian Council of Christian Charities
Religious Groups Seek More Clarity in Amended Bill C-9 – The Catholic Register