Bill C-9 is being touted as an ‘Anti-Hate Bill’, but is that really the goal?

Bill C-9 proposes new Criminal Code offences, including one that would make it a crime to intentionally promote hatred in public against identifiable groups, using certain hate-or terrorism-related symbols. It would also make hate-motivated crimes a specific offence and crack down on wilfully intimidating and obstructing people outside places of worship. Given the hatred and calls for death of all Jews by Jew-haters on Canadian streets these days, it should be a simple bill to pass, but there appears to be more to this than what we are being told.

Recently, Bloc Québécois Leader, Yves-François Blanchet, told reporters that his party struck a deal with the Liberals to amend the Criminal Code to remove a religious exemption from Canada’s hate speech laws and that Justice Minister Sean Fraser’s office agreed to the terms. Blanchet’s party has long sought to remove the religious exemption, saying religion could be used as a cover for promoting hate, such as homophobia and antisemitism. Wait now, rejecting homosexuality for being unhealthy and immoral is on the same level as calling for the death of Jews? Certainly, Canadians have the right to distinguish between healthy and unhealthy, God-pleasing and sinful; well, not if C-9 includes the removal of religious exemption from Canada’s hate speech laws.

Behind the scenes is an organization called Rainbow Faith and Freedom (RFF) that recently published a document on “Inclusive Worship” (PDF). Who paid for the report? You guessed it—the federal government, more specifically ‘Women and Gender Equality Canada’. In this document—RFF under ‘Key Findings’—states, “The lived experience for most 2SLGBTQ+ folks in Ontario is one of exclusion, as many places of worship fail to allow same sex marriage, ordination, welcome the queer community into the space and at their worst engage in explicit homophobia and transphobia.” Under ‘The Purpose’, RFF states their mandate is to end religious-based discrimination in Canada. So, a government funded organization whose goal is to have all religions treat 2SLGBTQ living as equal to God’s plan. How could this actually be undertaken but by force of law, such as Bill C-9?

If the Criminal Code is amended to remove religious exemption, then Christian churches and Christian schools who hold to and teach God’s word on sexuality may be found in violation of the Criminal Code, and organizations like RFF will not rest until they are. We are asking every reader of this Communique to do two things today:

1. Pray for God’s intervention against this evil.
2. Send an e-mail to Prime Minister, Mark Carney, Minister of Justice, Sean Fraser, Leader of the Opposition, Pierre Poilievre, Leader of the Bloc Quebecois, Yves-François Blanchet, Leader of CHP Canada Rod Taylor and your Member of Parliament. (A sample e-mail is provided below which you can simply copy and paste).

The email addresses for those named above are: mark.carney@parl.gc.ca; sean.fraser@parl.gc.ca; pierre.poilievre@parl.gc.ca; Yves-Francois.Blanchet@parl.gc.ca; leader@chp.ca

For your Member of Parliament search by postal code here.

Sample email you can copy and paste:

Subject Line: Do Not Allow Bill C-9 to Remove Religious Exemption from the Criminal Code

Dear Prime Minister Mark Carney, Hon. Sean Fraser, Minister of Justice and Attorney General, Yves-François Blanchet, Leader of the Bloc Québécois, Rod Taylor, Leader of CHP Canada, and Member of Parliament

As a peace-loving, Christian Canadian, who is appalled by the threats posed to Jewish Canadians by those who publicly call for their death, terrorize their neighbourhoods, block access to and desecrate their synagogues and schools, I am supportive of measures that will incriminate such public behaviour, which is my understanding of the original idea behind Bill C-9. However, what I strongly object to is the expansion of C-9 to remove Religious Exemption.

While there should be no exemption that permits any group or individual to publicly (or privately) call for the harm of another group or individual, there must not be restrictions on a group or individual to peacefully define and declare principles that honour the Supremacy of God and the rule of law, which, as you know, are the principles on which Canada and the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms are founded. To restrict or eliminate these Biblical teachings—in any manner—will open the door to replacing them with other belief systems, systems that are in constant flux and counter to God’s plan.

I am particularly concerned with the known goal of the Bloc Quebecois—to remove religious exemption, as they say religion could be used for promoting hate such as homophobia and antisemitism. Holding to and promoting different views on various subjects associated with sexuality or religion or any subject is part of a healthy society provided that the expression of views does not call for or suggest violence. Using force of law to suppress peaceful expression of varying views is tyranny.

In closing, I ask you to support measures that will criminalize public actions and conspiracies that call for harm to Canadians while not restricting the peaceful declaration of principles that honour the Supremacy of God and the rule of law, the principles on which Canada and the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms are founded.

In service,

[Your Name]