The government has given notice of a motion to close the debate on
Bill C-9, the hate crimes bill. (See the full text of the motion, below.)
On Monday, March 9, the House of Commons will debate and vote on a motion that would stop further debate on changes to Bill C-9. The motion directs the Justice Committee to vote on changes that have already been proposed without further debate.
According to the motion, debate on Bill C-9 would also be limited to a day each for its final two stages in the House of Commons, with a vote to follow the same day.
The Justice Committee has amended Bill C-9 to remove the religious belief defence from s 319(3) of the
Criminal Code. It will no longer be a defence to the wilful promotion of hatred.
While this defence has rarely been invoked and never successfully, it is an important protection for religious expression.
The Justice Committee had been debating an amendment, proposed by the parliamentary secretary to the Justice Minister, which underlines that the wilful promotion of hatred offence requires that a person intend to promote hatred. This amendment was proposed as a way to clarify that the change in Bill C-9 isn’t intended to capture the good faith expression of religious beliefs. This amendment will be voted on when the committee resumes.
The EFC does not believe this amendment provides the clarity that is needed.
This weekend is the final window of time to contact your MP before this motion to close debate on Bill C-9 is debated and voted on.
The EFC supports the intention of Bill C-9 to protect access to religious sites and services, as the Jewish community is requesting. However, efforts to address anti-religious threats should not undermine existing protections for religious minority groups.
We have asked for substantive clarification to be added to the bill so it is clear that reading religious texts, good faith preaching and teaching are not the wilful promotion of hatred.
The EFC’s
two-page summary of the bill and tips for contacting MPs can be a resource for your networks.
Related resources
- EFC's webpage on Bill C-9, www.TheEFC.ca/C9
- EFC's two-page summary with tips for contacting your MP on hate crimes and religious expression (Jan. 13, 2026) also available in Chinese (中文) and en français.
- Petition form: download, collect 25+ signatures, mail to your MP (PDF, Jan. 23, 2026)
- EFC President's letter to the Prime Minister (Dec. 9, 2025)
- EFC blog on the hate crimes bill controversy (Dec. 9, 2025)
- EFC submission to the House of Common's Justice Committee (PDF, 9 pages, Nov. 21, 2025)
- EFC blog on civil disagreement on the good faith religious belief defence (Nov. 17, 2025)
- EFC talking points and summary on the religious belief defence (Nov. 14, 2025)
- EFC backgrounder on the good faith religious belief defence (PDF, 4 pages, Nov. 4, 2025)
- EFC's three-page summary of Bill C-9 (PDF, Oct. 6, 2025)