Protecting Religious Freedom from Bill C-9

The Liberals’ amendment to Bill C-9 represents an unprecedented intrusion into religious freedoms. Instead of fixing their failed bail reforms, the Liberal government is choosing to push ahead with legislation that could expose people of faith to criminal prosecution simply for quoting their sacred texts.

The former Liberal chair of the House of Commons Justice Committee, Marc Miller, claimed there were “clearly hateful” statements in parts of the Bible and Torah. But removing long-standing protections for religious expression will not make Canadians safer.

Debate is currently underway on an amendment moved by my Conservative colleague, MP Andrew Lawton for Bill C-9 in Clause 4, adding the following: (6.1) Nothing in this section is to be interpreted or applied so as to interfere with the freedom of expression or the freedom of religion. This Conservative amendment is needed as a counterbalance to Bill C-9’s assault on civil liberties, religious freedom, and freedom of expression. We are arguing the principle that religious teachings should not be subject to government censorship – we are not here to debate specific scriptural passages. Calls to incite hatred or violence, whether cloaked in religion or not, are already illegal and not subject to the religious defense the Liberals are now seeking to remove.

Conservatives will continue to stand firmly in defence of Canadians’ fundamental freedoms. We will fight vigorously against this reckless and unprecedented attack on freedom of expression and religion, and we will keep demanding real action to reverse the Liberals’ dangerous bail laws that allow violent offenders back onto our streets.

If you would like to add your voice, please consider signing our Conservative petition to keep Liberal thought police out of your place of worship: https://conservative.ca/cpc/protect-religious-freedom/.