Tory House Leader Signals Party Open to Backing Parts of Liberals’ Anti-Hate Bill

Conservative House Leader Andrew Scheer has suggested his party may be open to supporting a narrower version of the Liberal government’s anti-hate legislation, potentially by splitting the bill into two parts.

The House of Commons justice committee is set to meet on Feb. 11 to study Bill C-9, also known as the Combatting Hate Act, which would create new criminal offences related to intimidation and the obstruction of access to places of worship. The bill would also create a new offence of wilfully promoting hatred by publicly displaying certain symbols. 

Conservatives are opposed to an amendment to the bill that removes the religious defence to hate speech in the Criminal Code, as they say it could suppress religious freedom. The religious defence, currently enshrined in the law, protects individuals from charges of wilfully promoting hatred when expressing religious beliefs in good faith.

Scheer told reporters on Feb. 10 that the Tories could not support a “censorship bill,” but said if the legislation was solely focused on creating additional protections around places of worship, it could pass “very quickly.”

Scheer also said the Conservatives could potentially support splitting Bill C-9 into two pieces of legislation, with the religious defence provisions carved out into a separate bill. He referenced Bill C-2, the Strong Borders Act, that the government split into two parts to expedite its passage following privacy concerns from opposition parties.

“If the government chose to take that approach, I can signal that Conservatives would support those components of the bill,” Scheer said, adding there is “broad-based support” among Canadians and faith groups for enhanced protections regarding access to religious centres.

Justice Minister Sean Fraser told reporters on Feb. 10 that the Conservatives have pushed to alter the bill’s definition of “hate,” and have raised objections to the proposed removal of the requirement for provincial attorney general consent to lay a hate speech charge. Fraser also said there have been calls to ensure that reading religious texts and ordinary religious practice are explicitly not classified as hate under the legislation.

Fraser said the Liberal government is willing to accommodate requests from critics by refining parts of the bill, while also accusing the Conservatives of wanting to “obstruct the criminal justice agenda” rather than work cooperatively with the government.

When asked about the amendment seeking to remove the religious defence to hate speech, Fraser said leaders of several faith communities have expressed support, while others have raised concerns that the change could create uncertainty about how their teachings or reading of religious texts might be treated under the law. He added that the Liberals would “entertain amendments” to clarify that religious beliefs and practices are not intended to be classified as hate speech under the bill.

Fraser previously said in a Dec. 9 statement that the amendment on the religious defence to hate speech would not impact freedom of religion in Canada, which is guaranteed under section 2(a) of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms.

His statement came after the Bloc Québécois announced it had reached an agreement with the Liberals to pass its amendment to remove the religious defence to hate speech. On Dec. 9, 2025, Liberal MPs on the justice committee voted with the Bloc to approve the amendment.

The bill still needs to be voted on by the House of Commons, and be studied and approved by the Senate, before it can be passed into law.

While 37 civil society organizations have said they are opposed to Bill C-9, some groups like the Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs and B’nai Brith Canada have expressed support for the bill.