Ban swastika and flags

AI summary

Petitioners ask Parliament to ban swastika and listed-terrorist flags, prohibit protests within 500 feet of schools/daycares/places of worship, end UNRWA funding, and secure hostages’ release. The government responds that Bill C-9 addresses many requests.

AI summaries describe petitioners’ requests and claims. Consult the official record for the full text.

Official petition

Petition to the House of Commons in Parliament assembled Since October 7th 2023, major federally funded news organizations promoted antisemitism through one sided reporting; B’nai Brith revealed in 2024 there was on average 17 anti-semitic incidents a day, a 124.6% increase from 2022; Major news organizations have been reporting false data from a terrorist organization on the Canadian terrorist watch list; Said organizations deceive the public masking the reports, citing “Gazan Health Ministry” as who they are getting casualty numbers from; On May 25th 2025, Israel increased its travel advisory for Canada to “Potential Threat Risk” for Jews and Israelis due to the Canadian government's lack of action against antisemitism; Hamas publicly thanked Mark Carney; and Canada continues to fund UNRWA even after proven involvement in the October 7th terrorist massacre in which three Canadians were kidnapped and taken hostage, continued ties to Hamas, blockade of humanitarian aid and revealed evidence of a violent, anti-semitic and undemocratic curriculum in UNRWA run schools. We, the undersigned, Jewish Canadians and allies of the Jewish Canadian community, call upon the House of Commons in Parliament assembled to: 1. Finally ban the swastika; 2. Put measures in place to ensure government funded media is presenting neutral, fact-based reporting; 3. Ban protesting within 500 feet of schools, daycares and places of worship; 4. Ban the use of flags of organizations listed on the Canadian Terrorist Watchlist in public protests; 5. Criminalize destruction of public property with intent of hate; 6. Stop funding UNRWA; 7. Call for the immediate release of all remaining hostages and remains of hostages held by Hamas; and 8. Outlaw antisemitism once and for all. 2. Put measures in place to ensure government funded media is presenting neutral, fact-based reporting; 3. Ban protesting within 500 feet of schools, daycares and places of worship; 4. Ban the use of flags of organizations listed on the Canadian Terrorist Watchlist in public protests; 5. Criminalize destruction of public property with intent of hate; 6. Stop funding UNRWA; 7. Call for the immediate release of all remaining hostages and remains of hostages held by Hamas; and 8. Outlaw antisemitism once and for all.

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 is taking concrete action to counter hate in all its forms, including antisemitism, and reinforce that our society will not tolerate being made to feel afraid because of who they are, how they worship or where they gather. On September 19, 2025, the Government of Canada introduced Bill C-9, the Combatting Hate Act, to strengthen Canada’s legal framework to address hate and better protect access to religious and cultural places, including schools and daycares. As adopted at Third Reading in the House of Commons, Bill C-9 would explicitly prohibit intimidating someone in order to impede them from accessing places of worship, as well as schools or community centres used primarily by an identifiable group, or obstructing access to such places. Although the new intimidation and obstruction offences would not constitute what are commonly referred to as “bubble zones”, which are designed to limit protest activity near certain locations, they would protect against criminal conduct that occurs in and around these types of spaces. These offences would complement the various provincial and municipal laws and by-laws that do create “bubble zones” as those measures fall within their respective areas of jurisdiction. Bill C-9 would make hate-motivated crime a specific offence, ensuring that such conduct is more clearly denounced and that offenders are held accountable. In addition, it would create a new hate propaganda offence that prohibits the wilful promotion of hatred against an identifiable group through the public display of certain terrorism or hate symbols, namely the Nazi Hakenkreuz and Nazi double Sig Rune (also known as the SS bolts), as well as symbols that are principally used by or principally associated with a terrorist entity listed under section 83.05 of the Criminal Code. Currently listed entities can be found in the Canada Gazette; they can also be found directly here: https://www.publicsafety.gc.ca/cnt/ntnl-scrt/cntr-trrrsm/lstd-ntts/crrnt-lstd-ntts-en.aspx In addition to these new offences, Bill C-9 would add a definition of “hatred” to clarify what conduct constitutes a hate crime or hate speech. It also proposes to repeal the good faith religious opinion defence that applies to certain hate propaganda offences and add new “for greater certainty” clauses to clarify what expression would be captured by these offences, namely statements communicated to intentionally promote hatred or antisemitism. The proposed new offences in Bill C-9 would be complementary to existing Criminal Code measures to address hate, such as the offence of wilfully promoting antisemitism by condoning, denying or downplaying the Holocaust (subsection 319(2.1)) and the hate-motivated mischief to property offence (subsection 430(4.1)), and expand the tools available to police and prosecutors to protect communities across the country. A strong Canada protects every person’s freedom to protest peacefully and worship freely, while ensuring that no one is subjected to criminal acts of hate and intimidation that threaten public safety. Response by the Minister of Canadian Identity and Culture and Minister responsible for Official Languages Signed by The Honourable Marc Miller The Government would like to thank the petitioners for expressing their concerns regarding measures to be in place to ensure that media receiving funding from the Government is presenting neutral, fact-based reporting. Independent self-regulating bodies like the National NewsMedia Council or the Conseil de presse du Québec take public complaints against its members and review them to uphold and promote ethical practices in the news media industry. The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation is Canada’s national public broadcaster. It is an independent Crown Corporation that is accountable to Parliament through the Minister of Culture and Identity. While it operates at arm’s length to Government, the Corporation is subject to existing federal anti-discrimination laws and regulations, such as the Canadian Human Rights Act. The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation’s mandate requires that, among other things, it contribute to a shared national consciousness and identity; be made available throughout Canada by the most appropriate and efficient means and as resources become available for the purpose; and reflect the multicultural and multiracial nature of Canada. Section 46(5) of the Broadcasting Act guarantees that the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation has freedom of expression and journalistic, creative and programming independence. It has clear set of journalistic standards and practices to which its journalists must adhere, and an ombudsman to whom complaints can be presented if any Canadian should feel that those standards have not been met. Further, the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission reinforces public interest broadcasting norms pursuant to the Broadcasting Act and sets expectations reflecting diversity and accessibility policy standards for public broadcasters. Response by the Minister of Foreign Affairs Signed by Rob Oliphant Part 6. Canada unequivocally condemns Hamas for the terrorist attacks of October 7, 2023, which claimed the lives of civilians, including Canadians. Canada continues to call for Hamas’ disarmament and removal from governance in Gaza. Providing support to displaced people, refugees, and humanitarian crises has long been a priority for Canada. The United Nations mandate of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East positions it as the primary provider of education, health care, and social services for Palestine refugees not only in Palestine (Gaza and the West Bank), but also in Jordan, Lebanon, and Syria. The Agency’s work is vital to regional stability and preserving the prospect of a two-state solution, and Canada recognizes its contributions across all areas of operation. Canada is among the top donors supporting the Agency’s delivery of essential services and life-saving humanitarian assistance, particularly in Gaza. Canada’s $100 million multi-year funding to the Agency helps deliver critical services for Palestine refugees across its four fields of operation. Since October 7, 2023, Canada has provided an additional $56 million to support the Agency’s emergency appeals for Palestine, Syria, and Lebanon. Canada temporarily paused funding to the Agency on January 26, 2024, following allegations that a small number of staff members were involved in the October 7, 2023, attacks. Funding resumed on March 8, 2024, in response to urgent humanitarian needs and based on ongoing United Nations–mandated reviews and investigations, as well as the Agency’s measures taken to address the allegations. On August 5, 2024, an investigation by the investigation body of the United Nations found that nine staff members of the Agency “may have been involved,” in the attacks, but the evidence could not be fully authenticated; those individuals were immediately dismissed. On April 22, 2024, Canada welcomed the Agency’s commitment to implementing the 50 recommendations of the Independent Review Group (Colonna report), which had assessed its neutrality mechanisms. Since then, the Agency has strengthened oversight, accountability, and transparency, and is making progress in implementing these recommendations. As in all areas where it operates, the Agency uses local textbooks but has reinforced neutrality in its education system through enhanced reviews, strengthened teacher training, and expanded digital learning tools aligned with United Nations values and United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization standards. Canada welcomes continued progress by the Agency on these reforms and remains committed to supporting accountability and effectiveness. It will continue working with the Agency, partner organizations, and other donors to ensure the full implementation of all recommendations. Part 7. As of December 3, 2025, all hostages and the identified remains of hostages held in Gaza have been released by Hamas. Canada is relieved that this long-standing priority was achieved and conveyed its gratitude to international partners and regional mediators for their sustained efforts to support these outcomes. The return of hostages was part of the first phase of the peace plan and Canada will continue to support international partners and encourage all parties to take necessary steps to achieve a lasting peace. Previously, Canada consistently and publicly called for the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages following Hamas’ terrorist attacks on October 7, 2023, and sustained engagement with international partners to support efforts aimed at securing their release. Canada has also welcomed and supported international initiatives and proposals intended to promote de-escalation, advance humanitarian objectives, and contribute to a pathway toward peace, including President Donald Trump’s Comprehensive Plan to End the Gaza Conflict, announced on September 29, 2025, which explicitly called for the release of all hostages, both living and deceased.