Protect sacred texts from criminalization
Petitioners ask the government to amend Bill C‑9 to bar criminalizing the reading or sharing of sacred texts. The government responds that Bill C‑9 sets a high threshold and clarifies good‑faith religious discussion isn’t criminalized.
Why we would sign this petition
- It would safeguard freedom of religion and expression by explicitly exempting reading and sharing sacred texts from criminal liability.
- It would reduce fear among faith communities that scripture or sermons could be prosecuted, preserving open religious teaching and debate.
- It would give courts and the public clearer legal boundaries, lowering the risk of government overreach into matters of faith.
Why we wouldn’t sign this petition
- A statutory exemption could be used to shield genuinely hateful or inciting religious speech from prosecution.
- Narrowing criminal liability might weaken tools to address harmful, dehumanizing speech that threatens targeted groups.
- Judicial clarification or careful statutory drafting might protect religious expression without creating broad exemptions, so an amendment may be unnecessary.
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 the Liberal Government's Bill C-9 could be used to criminalize passages from sacred texts; And Whereas: the state has no place in the religious texts or teachings of any faith community; And Whereas: freedom of expression and freedom of religion are fundamental rights that must be preserved. Therefore: We, the undersigned residents of Canada, call upon the Liberal government 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 are free to pray, preach, teach, interpret scripture, and express religious belief in good faith without fear of violence, intimidation, or criminal sanction. 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, repealing what is 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, on March 11, 2026, the Standing Committee on Justice and Human Rights adopted 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.