Oppose Bill C-9

AI summary

Petitioners ask the House to oppose Bill C-9, halt limits on peaceful protest, and guarantee freedom of expression and assembly. The government responds that Bill C-9 is law, addresses hate and preserves peaceful protest.

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

Official petition

Petition to the House of Commons Section 2 (b) of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms guarantees freedom of thought, belief, opinion and expression, including freedom of the press and other media of communication; Section 2 (c) of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms guarantees freedom of peaceful assembly; Section 1 (e) of the Canadian Bill of Rights guarantees freedom of assembly and association; Article 12:1 of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples upholds the right of Indigenous peoples to practise their own ceremonies, such as the Round Dance, in public spaces; Organizations including the Canadian Civil Liberties Association have opposed Bill C-9 and related legislation as a threat to democratic institutions and processes, unrelated to the curtailment of hate speech; and Section 319 of Canada’s Criminal Code already names public or wilful incitement of hatred or antisemitism as indictable offences We, the undersigned, citizens and residents of Canada, call upon the House of Commons to 1. Oppose Bill C-9, the Combatting Hate Act, and any future limitation of the right to protest; 2. Guarantee the right to freedom of speech and assembly; 3. Protect and strengthen democratic and civil rights rather than criminalize protest.

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 Canada’s commitment to the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, including sections 2(b) and 2(c), is unwavering. The Government of Canada also continues to uphold the provisions of the Canadian Bill of Rights and remains committed to implementation of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples through the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Action Plan (2023-2028). In recent years, Canada has faced a troubling rise in hate speech and hate crimes, including disturbing incidents of vandalism as well as intimidating and obstructive behaviour in front of places of worship such as synagogues, mosques, temples and gurdwaras. In response, the Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada introduced Bill C-9, the Combatting Hate Act, in the House of Commons on September 19, 2025. Bill C-9 received Royal Assent on June 18, 2026, and will come into force on July 18, 2026. The Combatting Hate Act delivers on the Government of Canada’s commitment to better protect all people in Canada from hate-motivated crimes and to strongly reinforce that our society will not tolerate anyone being made to feel afraid because of who they are, how they worship, or where they gather. By protecting those most at risk, the Act helps uphold the pluralistic and democratic values that benefit all people in Canada. Amongst other measures, the Combatting Hate Act explicitly prohibits intimidating a person in order to impede them from accessing places of worship, or a school or community centre used primarily by an identifiable group, as well as obstructing access to such places. The Act makes it an offence to wilfully promote hatred against an identifiable group by publicly displaying certain symbols of terrorism and hate. In addition, it creates a specific hate-motivated offence, ensuring such conduct is more clearly denounced and that offenders are held accountable. These measures strengthen Canada’s ability to counter hate-motivated crime and hate speech across the country. The Act does not criminalize protest activities. Rather, it is carefully designed to ensure that it does not apply to people who are simply communicating information, peacefully protesting, or otherwise not engaging in criminal activity around specified places. These changes to the law do not prohibit or otherwise limit peaceful assembly, nor do they unreasonably limit an individual’s freedom of expression. To confront hate in all its forms, Budget 2024 announced $273.6 million over six years, beginning in 2024-25, with $29.3 million ongoing, for Canada's Action Plan on Combatting Hate. This funding supports community outreach, law enforcement reform, efforts to tackle the rise in hate crimes, enhanced community security, initiatives to counter radicalization, and increased support for victims. These investments include $28 million over six years, beginning in 2024-25, for the Department of Justice under the Federal Victims Strategy to support victims following a hate-motivated crime, and $1.5 million over five years, beginning in 2024-25, for the Department of Justice to develop and deliver specialized training to Crown prosecutors and to raise awareness within the judiciary about the unique dynamics of hate crime. The Government of Canada also supports communities at risk of hate-motivated crime through Public Safety’s Canada Community Security Program (CCSP). The CCSP provides financial assistance to private, not-for-profit organizations to enhance the security of community gathering spaces that serve communities at risk of hate motivated crime, including for places of worship. The program funds physical security equipment, minor renovations, planning of activities such as security assessments, training, and the provision of security personnel. Applications are accepted year-round. Communities across Canada have been calling for stronger protections against hate crimes and those protections are now law. A strong Canada protects everyone's rights and freedoms as guaranteed by the Charter, while ensuring that no one is subjected to acts of hate that threaten public safety, dignity or social cohesion.