Add political belief to CHRA
Petitioners ask the House to enact Bill C-257 to add political belief or activity as prohibited grounds under the Canadian Human Rights Act. The government responds that C-257 lapsed on Parliament's dissolution and a new bill would be needed; it affirms Charter protections.
Why we would sign this petition
- It would explicitly add political belief or activity to the CHRA’s prohibited grounds, creating a clear legal basis against political discrimination.
- It would protect Canadians’ ability to participate in politics and express opinions peacefully, supporting public debate and democratic pluralism.
- It would give alleged victims of political discrimination a statutory avenue for complaints and potential remedies under federal human-rights law.
Why we wouldn’t sign this petition
- Creating a political-belief ground could raise tensions with Charter freedoms and complicate how expression and association are balanced legally.
- Vague or broad definitions of “political belief or activity” could produce legal uncertainty for employers, institutions and decision-makers.
- A new CHRA ground may overlap existing Charter and labour or human-rights protections, adding enforcement costs and practical complexity.
The summary and both sets of reasons are AI-generated from the petition and given equal weight. Claims are the petitioners’ own; consult the official record for the full text.
Official petition
Petition to the House of Commons We, the undersigned citizens and residents of Canada, draw the attention of the House of Commons to the following: Whereas: Canadians have the right to be protected against discrimination; Canadians can and do face political discrimination; It is a fundamental Canadian right to be politically active and vocal; It is in the best interest of Canadian democracy to protect public debate and the exchange of differing ideas; and Bill C-257 seeks to add protection against political discrimination to the Canadian Human Rights Act. Therefore we, the undersigned citizens and residents of Canada, call upon the House of Commons to: 1. Support Bill C-257 which bans discrimination on the basis of political belief or activity; and 2. Defend the rights of Canadians to peacefully express their political opinions.
Government response
Response by the Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada and Minister responsible for the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency Signed by (Minister or Parliamentary Secretary): THE PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY PATRICIA LATTANZIO Bill C-257, An Act to amend the Canadian Human Rights Act (protecting against discrimination based on political belief), proposed to amend the Canadian Human Rights Act to add “political belief or activity” to the list of prohibited grounds of discrimination. When the 44th session of Parliament was dissolved on March 23, 2025, all parliamentary business, including bills, motions, inquiries and committee reports, ceased in both the Senate and the House of Commons. This means that Bill C-257, as a Private Member’s Bill, was also terminated before completing the legislative process. As a new Parliamentary Session has now opened, a new Bill would need to be introduced in order to follow the legislative process. The Government believes that all people in Canada are deserving of equal respect, consideration and protection from discrimination. The rights of people in Canada to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly are fundamental aspects of our democracy and are constitutionally protected in the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. The ability to express one’s opinions or beliefs brings to life such rights and democratic values such as freedom of expression and freedom of association. The Government is firmly committed to respecting the Charter and its protections, including with respect to political expression.