Justice minister breaks silence on deal with Bloc to remove religious exemption in hate speech laws

OTTAWA — After a week of controversy, Justice Minister Sean Fraser broke his silence Monday about his government’s floundering deal with the Bloc Québécois to remove the religious exemption for certain hate speech in exchange for passing bill C-9.

On Monday afternoon, the Bloc Québécois fired a barrage at the minister during question period, accusing Fraser of reneging on the deal he had brought to the Bloc in order to pass the bill targeting hate and terror symbols.

In response, Fraser did not deny he had made a deal with the Bloc as he argued that the minority Liberals would need to work with other parties to get the contentions legislation through.

But he was mum on the state of that deal, which the Bloc said is on its deathbed after the Liberals twice cancelled or suspended the Commons justice committee meetings last week where amendments to C-9 are being debated.

One such amendment, proposed by the Bloc, is to remove an exemption in the Criminal Code to the charge of willful promotion of hateful or antisemitic speech if it is based in good faith on the interpretation of a religious text.

“My priority is to see this bill adopted,” Fraser said during question period. “That’s going to require that we collaborate with different parties who have different points of view.

“I thank my colleague for the conversations that we’ve been able to share,” he added in response to a Bloc question. “I look forward to seeing the decision that’s going to be taken not by an individual minister, but by the justice committee as they consider potential amendments going forward.”

They were his first public comments on C-9 since National Post revealed last Monday that the Liberals had struck a deal with the Bloc to support the legislation in exchange for removing the religious exemption.

Bill C-9 would create a new offence for intimidating someone to the point of blocking their access to a place of worship or another centre used by an identifiable group, as well as criminalizing the act of promoting hate by displaying a hate or terror symbol, such as one tied to a listed terrorist organization or a swastika.

News of the Liberals agreeing to remove the religious exemption for certain hate speech — a longtime Bloc ask — has earned the Liberals both fierce criticism and praise from various groups.

Muslim, Christian and civil liberties groups as well as the Conservatives have lambasted the proposed amendment, tagging it as an attack on both freedom of speech and religion. They have argued that it risks criminalizing individuals speaking about their faith.

But eliminating the religious exemption is supported by Jewish and LGBTQ groups, the Bloc as well as the Quebec government, who have called for its removal repeatedly since 2023. They all say religion should not be used as a cover for antisemitic or hateful speech.

On Monday, the Bloc accused the Liberals of breaking their promise after saying last week that it was Fraser who approached them proposing to remove the religious exemption in exchange for the party’s support in getting C-9 through the House of Commons.

They also suggested the Liberals would cancel the justice committee meetings this week where amendments to C-9 are being debated, including eventually the Bloc’s to remove the religious exemption.

“The Liberals are abandoning their deal with the Bloc and are abandoning Quebecers. They are pulling the plug on C-9,” charged Bloc justice critic Rhéal Fortin. “How are they going to justify this about-face after so many broken promises?”

On Monday, CBC News cited anonymous sources saying the progress of the bill was stalled because Fraser’s office had failed to inform the Prime Minister’s Office before brokering the deal with the Bloc. The report said the bill is stalled because the PMO has not authorized any amendments.

In a statement, Fraser’s office said the minister has been working in “lockstep” with the prime minister on the bill. Spokesperson Jeremy Bellefeuille also suggested Tuesday’s justice committee meeting would go forward.

“Our offices work together as they should, and internal discussions are entirely normal in a minority Parliament as we work with all parties, including the Bloc,” Bellefeuille said, accusing the Conservatives of stonewalling the committee with opposition to a different bill.

“We’re ready to keep working in good faith at tomorrow’s committee meeting.”

National Post

cnardi@postmedia.com

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