Bill C-9, titled Bill C-9: An Act to amend the Criminal Code (hate propaganda, hate crime and access to religious or cultural places), passed its third reading in the House of Commons last Wednesday. Since the bill's first introduction to the House, several Charter rights groups have had concerns about the vague wording of the bill.
Howard Sapers, Executive Director of the Canadian Civil Liberties Association, said the various Charter-related problems the bill could cause are concerning.
"It's asking which mosquito bite itches the most, they're all irritating and problematic. We don't really have a worst, I can tell you that we're very concerned about the Section 2 harms overall, particularly the serious and unjustified infringements that C-9 would call for in terms of Freedom of Expression," said Sapers.
Section 2 of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms details Fundamental Freedoms, including freedom of conscience and religion, freedom of thought, belief, opinions and expression, and freedom of peaceful assembly and association. Sapers said that concerning Section 2 and Section 7, which details the right to life, liberty, and security of person, Bill C-9's wording is very vague, which is never good.
"The language in C-9 as passed contains classic Section 7 issues. The terms are vague, they're overbroad, and there's a lack of procedural safeguards...very concerned that we could see it backfire, that the way that C-9 has passed could actually make certain things worse, and certainly very unlikely to make anything better," said Sapers.
Riding Mountain MP Dan Mazier, who voted no on Bill C-9, had concerns focusing on governmental overreach, especially with Marc Miller, Minister of Canadian Identity and Culture.
"Marc Miller, he was the committee chair, and said here's what I think hate speech is, and it was basically different proverbs or different statements from different religious texts, and said well that's hatred...instead of just letting people just live their lives, the more you say no it's not, the more people feel they're being suppressed and shunned upon, like you can't think this way," said Mazier.
Bill C-9 passed its third reading by a vote of 186-137, and has since completed its first reading in the Senate.
