BPC Bulletin: A New Canadian Bill to Combat Hate Propaganda and Hate Speech
News Reports and Commentary Selected by Franklin Carter of the Book and Periodical Council’s Freedom of Expression Committee.
In the Canadian House of Commons, Justice Minister David Lametti recently introduced Bill C-36 to better define and combat hate propaganda and hate speech.
The bill, among other things, proposes to restore and revise Section 13 of the Canadian Human Rights Act. Section 13 prohibited the repeated electronic transmission of messages that tended to expose identifiable minorities to hatred or contempt. In 2013, Parliament, judging the section overly broad and dangerous to Canadians’ speech rights, abolished it.
The first reading of Bill C-36 in the House of Commons occurred on June 23, 2021. Afterward the House adjourned for the summer.
THE BILL’S OFFICIAL NAME
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)
PARLIAMENTARY INFORMATION
Read information about Bill C-36 on the website of the Parliament of Canada:
https://www.parl.ca/LegisInfo/BillDetails.aspx?Language=E&billId=11452710
THE PRESS CONFERENCE
Read the press release:
https://www.canada.ca/en/department-justice/news/2021/06/government-of-canada-takes-action-to-protect-canadians-against-hate-speech-and-hate-crimes.html
Watch Justice Minister Lametti and other Canadian cabinet ministers explain Bill C-36 on CPAC:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dz8RpUm4D5I
REPORTAGE
In the National Post, Anja Karadeglija reports:
In the National Post, Anja Karadeglija reports:
Joan Bryden of the Canadian Press reports:
https://www.ctvnews.ca/politics/liberals-introduce-bill-to-combat-online-hate-speech-as-commons-adjourns-for-summer-1.5483260
Nick Boisvert of CBC News reports:
https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/hate-speech-bill-c36-1.6077606
Eric Stober of Global News reports:
https://globalnews.ca/news/7976076/bill-c-36-online-hate-canada/
In the Toronto Star, Kieran Leavitt reports:
COMMENTARY
In the National Post, Avi Benlolo comments:
Joanna Baron of the Canadian Constitution Foundation comments:
https://thehub.ca/2021-06-29/joanna-baron-the-governments-new-online-harms-bill-will-not-make-hate-speech-go-away/
In The Globe and Mail, Andrew Coyne comments. This article is behind a paywall:
In The Globe and Mail, Taylor Owen comments. This article is behind a paywall:
Thanks go to Grant Buckler who forwarded the two Globe and Mail opinions.
The Book and Periodical Council was formed in 1975 as the Book and Periodical Development Council to provide a venue for members to discuss industry issues, address mutual concerns and undertake projects for the benefit of Canadian writing and publishing.