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House Bill

Bill C-261

44th Parl. 1st Sess.
March 28, 2022
An Act to amend the Criminal Code and the Canadian Human Rights Act and to make related amendments to another Act (hate propaganda, hate crimes and hate speech)
  • Bill C-261 is an act that aims to amend the Criminal Code and the Canadian Human Rights Act in relation to hate propaganda, hate crimes, and hate speech. It introduces new measures to address and prevent hate-related activities. The Criminal Code amendments include the creation of a recognizance to keep the peace for hate propaganda and hate crimes. It also provides a definition of "hatred" for two hate propaganda offenses. These amendments also extend to the Youth Criminal Justice Act. Additionally, the Canadian Human Rights Act is amended to make it a discriminatory practice to communicate hate speech through the internet or other means of telecommunication, if it is likely to incite detestation or vilification of an individual or group based on a prohibited ground of discrimination. The Canadian Human Rights Commission is authorized to accept complaints related to this practice, and the Canadian Human Rights Tribunal is authorized
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SteelmanSpren in Favour

  • The amendment proposed in Bill C-261 aims to address hate propaganda, hate crimes, and hate speech by amending the Criminal Code and the Canadian Human Rights Act. A steelman argument in favor of this amendment is as follows: The proposed amendment to the Criminal Code creates a recognizance to keep the peace relating to hate propaganda and hate crimes and defines "hatred" for the purposes of two hate propaganda offenses. By doing so, it provides a legal mechanism to address and prevent the spread of hate propaganda, which can escalate into hate crimes and further contribute to the marginalization and discrimination of certain groups. The amendment also includes provisions to address hate speech communicated through the internet or other means of telecommunication. By explicitly defining hate speech as a discriminatory practice in the Canadian Human Rights Act, it sends a strong message that hate speech targeting individuals or groups

SteelmanSpren Against

  • One steelman argument opposing this bill could be as follows: This bill infringes on the right to freedom of expression. While hate speech is certainly abhorrent and harmful, restricting it through legislation raises concerns about the limitation of free speech. The definition of "hatred" provided in the bill is vague and subjective, which can lead to potential abuses of power by law enforcement, as it grants them the authority to determine what speech constitutes "hate speech." Moreover, the bill fails to clearly differentiate between hate speech and legitimate criticism or dissent. It could potentially stifle debate and hinder the ability to express unpopular opinions or challenge prevailing beliefs. It is important to protect the right of individuals to engage in robust and open discussions, even if their views may cause offense or discomfort. Additionally, the bill's reliance on the Canadian Human Rights Commission and Tribunal t
House First Reading
  • March 28, 2022, 11 a.m.
  • In Progress
  • Read