The Canadian Justice Ministry recently announced that it is introducing legislation to combat hate crimes, intimidation, and obstruction. According to its website, "There is a horrifying rise in hate crimes in our communities, and Canada will not tolerate anyone being made to feel afraid because of who they are, how they worship, or where they gather."
Therefore, the Combatting Hate Act was introduced because of increased feelings of being unsafe due to antisemitism, Islamophobia, homophobia, and transphobia. The legislation will make is a crime to obstruct places that are used by certain groups and to promote hatred by displaying hate symbols. Hate motivate crime will also become a specific offense.
The announcement from the Canadian Department of Justice claims that these changes will not infringe upon the rights of free expression, peacefully assembling, and protesting.
Dr. Charles McVety, president of Canada Christian College and president of the Institute for Canadian Values, believes otherwise.
"These laws are not about hatred. They are about infringing upon free speech, and they are used like a blunt instrument to stop people from being able to preach in the streets or stop people from being able to share the love of God," informs McVety.
McVety says that he recently held a Charlie Kirk-like even at Canada Christian College, which was attended by two conservative members of Parliament.
"They spoke about this Bill C-9 and what they are doing procedurally in parliament to amend this bill and to derail it because they know it will be used against Christians,” says McVety. “I'm confident that we will have some success with this because this is a gross infringement upon the Charter which is our Constitution."
The charter being referred to is the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms which is similar to the U.S. Constitution’s Bill of Rights.
McVety states that they should be able to stop this bill or make it more amicable.
