Government House Leader Steven MacKinnon has tabled a motion for a vote on the floor of the House of Commons on Monday to end the Conservative filibuster.Sean Kilpatrick/The Canadian Press
The Liberals are taking steps to halt debate on their flagship anti-hate bill in committee to end a prolonged Conservative filibuster on removing a religious exemption to some hate speech laws.
Conservatives have said they have been inundated with expressions of concern from religious leaders who fear Bill C-9 would limit religious freedom if it becomes law.
But the Liberals have accused the Opposition of obstructing the progress of their anti-hate bill that would criminalize the willful promotion of hatred toward religious and ethnic groups by publicly displaying terror or hate symbols.
Government House Leader Steven MacKinnon has tabled a motion for a vote on the floor of the House of Commons on Monday to end the filibuster. It proposes that the justice committee, where the anti-hate bill is being discussed, move straight to vote on amendments and sub-amendments rather than discussing them further. The motion would also force MPs to remain in committee until they’ve finished examining the entire bill.
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The motion is designed to halt further debate and swiftly move the bill on to its next stage in the parliamentary process. It would also fast-track the bill at its subsequent report stage. For months, Conservatives have made prolonged interventions in committee proceedings, railing against the removal of the religious exemption, which has long been part of the country’s Criminal Code.
Last year, in an effort to get the anti-hate bill through the Commons, Liberal MPs supported an amendment by the Bloc Québécois to remove the exemption, which allows a person who quotes from a religious text to escape prosecution for hate speech. The Bloc has argued for years that it can be used as cover for promoting homophobia, racial abuse and antisemitism.
But Conservatives on the committee and in the Commons chamber have argued that removing it could curb religious freedom and expression. Last year, several Conservative MPs brought bibles to the committee to reinforce their arguments.
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The Liberals have expressed frustration at Conservative filibustering tactics, which they say have been holding up Bill C-9, as well as the justice committee’s consideration of the next bill on its list.
The anti-hate bill would also make it a crime, punishable by up to 10 years in prison, to obstruct someone from accessing a place of worship or other sites where Jews, Muslims and other identifiable groups gather, including by blocking doors, driveways and roads.
The Liberals have introduced a sub-amendment to clarify that religious freedom or expression would not be stymied by ending the religious exemption.
Conservatives on the committee have suggested the sub-amendment does not go as far as they would like and have raised a number of procedural points that have further delayed the bill.
The bill has been stuck in committee for months, with one meeting before the winter break devoted entirely to a prolonged filibuster by Conservative MP Andrew Lawton. His protracted intervention, which drew congratulations from Conservative staffers present in the committee room, included remarks about his preference for dogs over cats.
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The Liberals have already halted discussion of the anti-hate bill in the committee to allow a bill reforming the bail system, which the Conservatives said should be a priority, to be discussed. The bail bill moved through the committee swiftly.
Lola Dandybaeva, spokesperson for Justice Minister Sean Fraser, said the Conservatives are continuing to obstruct a bill offering “stronger protections in the face of rising hate” and delaying the committee from considering measures to help stop intimate partner violence.
Bill C-16, which is next in line for examination by the justice committee, aims to protect victims of sexual, gender-based and intimate-partner violence, and minors from predators. It would also increase penalties for sex crimes, including distributing intimate images and sexual deepfakes.
Larry Brock, the Conservative justice critic who sits on the committee, said in a statement: “The Liberals have no one else to blame but themselves for dividing and wedging Canadians with a bill that numerous civil liberties and religious groups across the spectrum are raising concern over for its massive infringement on religious freedom and freedom of expression in Canada.”
“No matter how the Liberals may try to twist and contort the issue, Conservatives will always be on the side of Canadians’ freedoms and religious expression,” he added.