Concerns raised over impact of Bill C-9

Protest of Bill C-9 outside London's city hall. (Lauren Stallone/CTV News London)

Various organizations gathered outside London City Hall Wednesday afternoon to voice their concerns over Bill C-9, the proposed “Combatting Hate Act” aimed at protecting communities against hate.

The Bill’s implications for democratic freedoms, protest rights and civil liberties were at the forefront of the conversation.

“Bill C-9 undermines key legal protections that have long helped prevent discriminatory or politically motivated prosecutions. Under current law, hate propaganda charges require the consent of a provincial attorney general, as in part to ensure fairness, consistency and oversight,” said Reem Sultan with Canadian Muslim Public Affairs Council.

“Bill C-9 removes this protection, even though parliament is now scrambling to reconsider it. The intent is clear, to give police greater, unchecked discretion and to lower the threshold for criminalizing speech.”

Members of London’s Palestinian community said they “strongly urge” the Canadian government to “withdraw the bill.”

“Bill C-9 overreaches and relies on vague subjective definitions,” said Samah Al Sabbagh, president of the Canadian Palestinian Social Association.

“Bill C-9 creates a new offense for displaying symbols linked to terrorist or hate, but the bill does not clearly define what those symbols are.”

Sabbagh said the bill is “vague” and opens the door to “criminalizing” racialized communities.

In a statement to CTV News, Jewish London said they “support the bill.”

The statement went on to say, “It provides real protection while fully respecting free expression. We encourage parliamentarians of all parties to work together to deliver a strong and balanced approach that keeps communities safe.”