{"id":39058,"date":"2026-06-02T15:56:32","date_gmt":"2026-06-02T19:56:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.cccc.org\/news_blogs\/?p=39058"},"modified":"2026-06-02T15:56:34","modified_gmt":"2026-06-02T19:56:34","slug":"bill-c-9-cccc-testifies-before-senate-committee-on-human-rights","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cccc.org\/news_blogs\/legal\/2026\/06\/bill-c-9-cccc-testifies-before-senate-committee-on-human-rights\/","title":{"rendered":"Bill C-9: CCCC Testifies Before Senate Committee on Human Rights"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"pps-series-post-details pps-series-post-details-variant-classic pps-series-post-details-38706\" data-series-id=\"761\"><div class=\"pps-series-meta-content\"><div class=\"pps-series-meta-text\">This entry is part 8 of 10 in the series <a href=\"https:\/\/cccc.org\/news_blogs\/series\/proposed-criminal-code-amendments-that-could-impact-good-faith-religious-expression\/\">Bill C-9<\/a><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Last week, CCCC\u2019s Director of Legal Affairs appeared as a witness before the Standing Senate Committee on Human Rights to speak about <a href=\"https:\/\/www.parl.ca\/DocumentViewer\/en\/45-1\/bill\/C-9\/third-reading\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Bill C-9, the <em>Combatting Hate <\/em>Act<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Bill <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cccc.org\/news_blogs\/legal\/2026\/03\/27\/bill-c-9-passes-third-reading-with-key-changes\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">C-9 does a number of things<\/a>:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>It creates 4 new offences:\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Hate crime offence where any other federal offence that is committed is motivated by hatred;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Wilful promotion of hatred offence through displays of terrorism and hate sybmols;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Obstruction offence for interfering with access to certain buildings.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Intimidation offence for provoking a state of fear in order to impede access to certain places.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>It removes the good faith religious opinion defence;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>It adds a definition of \u201chatred\u201d to the <em>Criminal Code<\/em>;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>It adds a \u201cfor greater certainty\u201d clause to the <em>Criminal Code<\/em>.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">CCCC urged the Committee to:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Examine existing <em>Criminal Code <\/em>offences before adding new offences \u2013 what works, what does not, and why or why not?<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Reinstate the good faith religious opinion defence.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Amend the new \u201cfor greater certainty\u201d clause to ensure it actually provides certainty, and include it in the text of the <em>Criminal Code<\/em>, not just in Bill C-9, using the text as proposed by <a href=\"https:\/\/sencanada.ca\/Content\/Sen\/Committee\/451\/RIDR\/briefs\/ChristianLegalFellowship_e.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Christian Legal Fellowship<\/a>.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">You can watch CCCC testimony before the Committee here: <\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"padding:56.21% 0 0 0;position:relative;\"><iframe src=\"https:\/\/player.vimeo.com\/video\/1197836138?badge=0&amp;autopause=0&amp;player_id=0&amp;app_id=58479\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"autoplay; fullscreen; picture-in-picture; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" style=\"position:absolute;top:0;left:0;width:100%;height:100%;\" title=\"CCCC Testimony - RIDR Committee Meeting No. 21 May 28 2026\"><\/iframe><\/div><script src=\"https:\/\/player.vimeo.com\/api\/player.js\"><\/script>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Questions and answers with the Committee begin at 16:23:45 in the <a href=\"https:\/\/senparlvu.parl.gc.ca\/harmony\/en\/powerbrowser\/powerbrowserv2?fk=697105&amp;globalstreamid=3\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">full recording<\/a>. CCCC also submitted a written brief to the Committee, outlining concerns and recommendations in greater detail, which you can read at the end of this post.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Senate Committee Review<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Following witness testimony, the Committee completed a <a href=\"https:\/\/senparlvu.parl.gc.ca\/harmony\/en\/powerbrowser\/powerbrowserv2?fk=698304&amp;globalstreamid=3\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">line-by-line review of Bill C-9<\/a>. During this type of review, Senators can propose changes before the legislation goes back to the Senate for a vote.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In its review of Bill C-9, Senators:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Proposed an amendment to restore the good faith religious defence \u2013 it was defeated.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Proposed an amendment to limit the scope of the new standalone (or \u201cadd-on\u201d) hate crime offence to <em>Criminal Code<\/em> offences \u2013 it was defeated. The new hate crime will apply to any existing <em>Criminal Code<\/em> offence or offence under other Acts of Parliament where the underlying offence is motivated by hate.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Proposed an amendment to add residential school denialism as a hate crime \u2013 it was passed.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Did not propose an amendment to improve the \u201cfor greater certainty\u201d clause.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Senate Committee Review Differed from Senate Debate<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Before Bill C-9 went to Committee, the Senate debate at second reading focused on how Bill C-9 would operate in relation to existing laws, and how it could significantly impact the <a href=\"https:\/\/sencanada.ca\/en\/content\/sen\/chamber\/451\/debates\/070db_2026-04-30-e?language=e#:~:text=That%20is%20why%20removing%20paragraphs%20319(3)(b)%20and%20319(3.1)(b)%20today%20is%20not%20a%20minor%20amendment%20but%20a%20change%20that%20may%20weaken%20the%20constitutional%20foundation%20of%20the%20provision\">constitutional foundation<\/a> of the existing Criminal Code offences.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Importantly, and as CCCC urged MPs and Senators to consider, the question was raised about <a href=\"https:\/\/sencanada.ca\/en\/content\/sen\/chamber\/451\/debates\/070db_2026-04-30-e?language=e#:~:text=Will%20this%20bill%20truly%20prevent%20what%20we%20have%20witnessed%20in%20recent%20months%20or%20years%20or%20will%20it%20mainly%20add%20another%20layer%20to%20the%20Criminal%20Code%2C%20while%20many%20of%20the%20necessary%20tools%20already%20exist%20but%20do%20not%20always%20appear%20to%20be%20used%20with%20the%20firmness%20required%3F\">whether new offences should even be created<\/a>, or whether the issue is really one of enforcing existing law.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In terms of the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.canlii.org\/en\/ca\/laws\/stat\/rsc-1985-c-c-46\/latest\/rsc-1985-c-c-46.html#sec319subsec3\">good-faith religious defence<\/a>, at least one Senator explained how the Supreme Court in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.canlii.org\/en\/ca\/scc\/doc\/1990\/1990canlii24\/1990canlii24.html?resultId=e3ebfd9043dc4f04ae982776bbcdb1b5&amp;searchId=2026-05-04T13:45:09:661\/6f58e78f9487459a9af54db4475775d6\"><em>R v. Keegstra<\/em><\/a> found that the crime of wilful promotion of hatred infringed freedom of expression; however, the existence of defences in s 319(3), including the good faith religious defence, sufficiently protected expression, and ensured the offence was constitutionally justified.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>What is Next for Bill C-9?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">After bills are <a href=\"https:\/\/sencanada.ca\/en\/about\/senate-explained\/#:~:text=Video-,What%20happens%20when%20a%20bill%20goes%20to%20committee%3F,-A%20bill%20goes\">studied<\/a> by a Senate Committee, the Committee prepares a Report for the full Senate with recommendations and any changes passed by majority vote in Committee. The Report will be sent to the Senate for a vote by all Senators. If the Report is adopted, the third reading will begin. If the Report is rejected, the bill will be defeated.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>What You Can Do<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Even though the Senate Committee did not propose changes recommended by CCCC and many other religious and civil liberties organizations, there is still an opportunity to express your concern to <a href=\"https:\/\/sencanada.ca\/en\/senators\/?v=contact\">Senators from your region<\/a>. We will continue to provide updates on Bill C-9 as it goes back to the Senate for report stage, third reading, and a vote. If you have questions or would like support, please contact our <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cccc.org\/mst\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Member Support Team<\/a> by phone or <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cccc.org\/email_us\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">email<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a id=\"_msocom_1\"><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div data-wp-interactive=\"core\/file\" class=\"wp-block-file\"><object data-wp-bind--hidden=\"!state.hasPdfPreview\" hidden class=\"wp-block-file__embed\" data=\"https:\/\/www.cccc.org\/news_blogs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/Brief-Bill-C-9-Canadian-Centre-for-Christian-Charities_May-26-2026.pdf\" type=\"application\/pdf\" style=\"width:100%;height:600px\" aria-label=\"Embed of Brief Bill C-9-Canadian Centre for Christian Charities_May 26 2026.\"><\/object><a id=\"wp-block-file--media-4b7c1edb-c4bf-4767-86ba-57eea00b9afa\" href=\"https:\/\/www.cccc.org\/news_blogs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/Brief-Bill-C-9-Canadian-Centre-for-Christian-Charities_May-26-2026.pdf\">Brief Bill C-9-Canadian Centre for Christian Charities_May 26 2026<\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/www.cccc.org\/news_blogs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/Brief-Bill-C-9-Canadian-Centre-for-Christian-Charities_May-26-2026.pdf\" class=\"wp-block-file__button wp-element-button\" download aria-describedby=\"wp-block-file--media-4b7c1edb-c4bf-4767-86ba-57eea00b9afa\">Download<\/a><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<div class=\"pps-series-post-details pps-series-post-details-variant-classic pps-series-post-details-38706 pps-series-meta-excerpt\" data-series-id=\"761\"><div class=\"pps-series-meta-content\"><div class=\"pps-series-meta-text\">This entry is part 8 of 10 in the series <a href=\"https:\/\/cccc.org\/news_blogs\/series\/proposed-criminal-code-amendments-that-could-impact-good-faith-religious-expression\/\">Bill C-9<\/a><\/div><\/div><\/div><p>Last week, CCCC\u2019s Director of Legal Affairs appeared as a witness before the Standing Senate Committee on Human Rights to speak about Bill C-9, the Combatting Hate Act. Bill C-9 does a number of things: CCCC urged the Committee to: You can watch CCCC testimony before the Committee here: Questions&#8230; <a href=\"https:\/\/cccc.org\/news_blogs\/legal\/2026\/06\/bill-c-9-cccc-testifies-before-senate-committee-on-human-rights\/\" class=\"linkbutton\">More<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":10,"featured_media":38733,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"ts_fic_featured_image_caption":"A partial image of an open Bible. The Bible is open to Romans 5 and 6, with only the left-hand page visible. A ribbon bookmark dangles across the page and a shadow obscures the very bottom left-hand corner. Photo by <a href=\"https:\/\/unsplash.com\/@danieldaymedia?utm_source=unsplash&utm_medium=referral&utm_content=creditCopyText\">Daniel Day Media<\/a> on <a href=\"https:\/\/unsplash.com\/photos\/opened-bible-vuhCiLvsHuI?utm_source=unsplash&utm_medium=referral&utm_content=creditCopyText\">Unsplash<\/a>","footnotes":""},"categories":[137],"tags":[437,765,759,138,141],"series":[761],"class_list":["post-39058","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized","tag-advocacy","tag-bill-c-9","tag-c-9","tag-law-and-religion","tag-religious-freedom","series-proposed-criminal-code-amendments-that-could-impact-good-faith-religious-expression"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/cccc.org\/news_blogs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/39058","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/cccc.org\/news_blogs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/cccc.org\/news_blogs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cccc.org\/news_blogs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/10"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cccc.org\/news_blogs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=39058"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/cccc.org\/news_blogs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/39058\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cccc.org\/news_blogs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/38733"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/cccc.org\/news_blogs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=39058"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cccc.org\/news_blogs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=39058"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cccc.org\/news_blogs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=39058"},{"taxonomy":"series","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cccc.org\/news_blogs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/series?post=39058"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}