Justice Minister Defends Removal of Religious Exemption to Hate Speech as Committee Restarts Bill Review

Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada Sean Fraser speaks at a news conference on a new bill aimed to address hate crimes, on Parliament Hill in Ottawa, on Sept. 19, 2025. The Canadian Press/Justin TangJustice Minister Sean Fraser said freedom of religion in Canada would not be impacted by an amendment to his hate crime bill aiming to remove the religious defence to hate speech, as the House of Commons justice committee is proposing changes to Bill C-9, the Combatting Hate Act.“Canada’s commitment to freedom of religion is unwavering. Freedom of religion is a fundamental guarantee under section 2(a) of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. Nothing in this amendment changes that,” Fraser said in a statement released on Dec. 9.