National

Liberal minister backs Bloc call to eliminate religious exemption for hate speech

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 02 Dec, 2025 11:06 AM

Culture Minister Marc Miller is expressing support for the removal of a religious exemption for hate speech in the Criminal Code.

Miller, who chaired the justice committee until he rejoined cabinet Monday, says he doesn’t believe people should be using religion to escape from prosecution for a hate crime.

The Bloc Québécois said in a press release Monday that the party had the government’s support for an amendment to get rid of the exemption.

The comments follow a report by the National Post saying the Liberals had reached a deal with the Bloc to remove the exemption in exchange for supporting the Liberals’ hate crime bill, C-9.

Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre says his party will oppose the amendment, which he called an attack on freedom of expression and religion.

The House of Commons justice committee has started the clause-by-clause process to amend the bill, but that work stalled during the last committee meeting due to a Conservative filibuster.

Picture Courtesy: THE CANADIAN PRESS/Spencer Colby

Prev Next

MORE National ARTICLES

Thousands at Fort McMurray picket lines

The Canadian Union of Public Employees says the main sticking point is wages and that its members haven't seen a pay increase in well over a decade. School support workers encompass staffers from custodians and administration workers to tradespeople and education assistants.

Thousands at Fort McMurray picket lines

Health officials report a death in a Winnipeg hospital emergency department

Health officials are investigating a death at a Winnipeg hospital. Officials at the Health Sciences Centre say a middle-aged man arrived shortly after midnight Tuesday morning at the hospital's emergency department, was triaged as a lower-acuity case and directed to the waiting room.

Health officials report a death in a Winnipeg hospital emergency department

Passenger of semi-truck taken to hospital after crash involving train near Edmonton

Alberta RCMP say one person has been airlifted to hospital after a collision involving a CN train and a semi-truck north of Edmonton. Mounties say officers were called to the scene between Highway 44 and Township Road 570 when the train slammed into the side of the truck.

Passenger of semi-truck taken to hospital after crash involving train near Edmonton

Special prosecutor appointed in case involving relative of B.C. provincial judge

The BC Prosecution Service says it has appointed a special prosecutor in a case involving a person related to a provincial court judge. It says senior lawyer Chris Johnson was chosen in order to "avoid any potential for real or perceived improper influence in the administration of justice."

Special prosecutor appointed in case involving relative of B.C. provincial judge

Police incident ends in New Westminster after court and college evacuated

Police say an incident that triggered the evacuation of the court complex at New Westminster, B.C., and the nearby campus of Douglas College has ended. New Westminster Police say the courthouse and surrounding area have been cleared and are open again to the public, around three hours after the evacuation was announced on Tuesday.

Police incident ends in New Westminster after court and college evacuated

B.C. woman already banned from midwifery is charged after infant dies

A British Columbia woman who describes herself as a childbirth advocate has been charged with manslaughter after police say an infant she helped deliver died days after its birth. RCMP in Ladysmith say 77-year-old Gloria Lemay was involved in the birth process of a child who was unresponsive when delivered on Dec. 27, 2023, at a private residence.