Protect sacred texts from criminalization
Petitioners ask the Government of Canada to protect religious freedom by ensuring Bill C‑9 cannot criminalize reading, sharing, preaching or teaching of sacred texts. The government responds that existing law and proposed Bill C‑9 provisions protect good‑faith religious expression and that prosecutors must prove deliberate intent to promote hatred before charges.
Why we would sign this petition
- It would add an explicit safeguard in Bill C‑9 preventing reading or sharing sacred texts from being treated as criminal, reassuring faith communities worried about prosecution.
- It defends freedom of religion and expression by preserving the right to preach, teach, and discuss scriptures in good faith.
- It seeks clear legal limits on enforcement to reduce prosecutorial overreach and maintain public confidence in law enforcement.
Why we wouldn’t sign this petition
- Courts and current law already require proof of deliberate intent to promote hatred, so the petition’s change may be unnecessary.
- Broad statutory protections could be exploited to shield speech that actually vilifies or incites hatred when framed as religious teaching.
- Focusing on protecting texts might divert attention and resources from measures to prevent and respond to real-world hate crimes.
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 GOVERNMENT OF CANADA Whereas: • Canadians are concerned that Liberal-Bloc amendments to Bill C-9, An Act to amend the Criminal Code (hate propaganda, hate crime and access to religious or cultural places), could be used to criminalize passages from the Bible, the Quran, the Torah, and other sacred texts. • The state has no place in the religious texts or teachings of any faith community; and • Freedom of expression and freedom of religion are fundamental rights that must be preserved. Therefore, we, the undersigned citizens and residents of Canada, call upon the Government of Canada to protect religious freedom, uphold the right to read and share sacred texts, and prevent government overreach into matters of faith.
Government response
Response by the Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada and Minister responsible for the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency Signed by THE PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY PATRICIA LATTANZIO The Government of Canada’s commitment to freedom of religion is unwavering. Freedom of religion is explicitly protected under section 2(a) of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms and has been consistently upheld by Canadian courts. All Canadians must be free to pray, preach, teach, interpret scripture, and express religious belief in good faith without fear of violence, intimidation, or criminal sanction. At the same time, Canada is facing a troubling rise in hate speech and hate crimes. To better protect all people in Canada, including their ability to worship, gather, and practise their faith in daily life, the Government of Canada introduced Bill C-9, the Combatting Hate Act, in the House of Commons on September 19, 2025. As part of Parliament’s consideration of this legislation, the House of Commons Standing Committee on Justice and Human Rights adopted an amendment on December 9, 2025, commonly referred to as the good faith religious opinion provision in the Criminal Code. This amendment reflects longstanding legal principles already recognized by Canadian courts. Crucially, Canada’s hate propaganda laws already set a very high threshold. Prosecutors must prove a deliberate intent to promote hatred, which the Supreme Court of Canada has defined as extreme and dehumanizing expression that goes far beyond mere offence or disagreement. Only the most dangerous forms of hate, including speech that vilifies, dehumanizes, or incites harm against an identifiable group, are captured by the Criminal Code. Religious sermons, teachings, and the reading or sharing of sacred texts in good faith do not meet this standard and are not criminalized. In addition, government members on the Standing Committee on Justice and Human Rights have proposed a clause for greater certainty in Bill C-9. This clause codifies in clear statutory language what has always been the case in Canadian law: that good faith religious, educational, political, or academic discussion on matters of public interest is not prohibited. The Government of Canada remains firmly committed to protecting religious freedom. A strong Canada safeguards every person’s right to worship freely and to share their faith, while ensuring that no one is subjected to the most extreme forms of hatred that threaten public safety, dignity, and social cohesion.