Bill C-9, the Combatting Hate Act, is another piece of legislation with an Orwellian name that the Canadian political class periodically rolls out. Under current Canadian law, anyone convicted of “the wilful promotion of hate” can face imprisonment, but exemptions exist for statements made in “good faith” or based on belief in a religious text. Bill C-9 seeks to eliminate these exemptions and is likely to pass through Parliament. Beyond creating tension between the state and civil liberties groups, the bill exposes deeper fissures that threaten Canada’s already fragile national unity.
