Hate crime bill could criminalize protests, civil liberties’ group says

Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada Sean Fraser speaks at a news conference on a new hate crimes bill in Ottawa on Friday, Sept. 19, 2025. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Justin Tang

OTTAWA — The Canadian Civil Liberties Association says the Liberal government’s new hate crimes bill runs the risk of criminalizing peaceful protest.

The bill, introduced Friday, would create new crimes of obstruction and intimidation aimed at protecting places of worship and institutions -- including schools, daycares and seniors’ residences -- used by an identifiable group.

“The new intimidation offence is far broader than existing prohibitions and could criminalize peaceful protests simply because they are seen as disruptive,” said Anais Bussieres McNicoll, director of the group’s fundamental freedoms program, in a news release Monday.

The maximum penalty under the new legislation would be 10 years in prison. Bussieres McNicoll said that penalty “is very severe and could push activists into silence.”

The civil liberties group said the bill could affect tens of thousands of community spaces across the country. It added police can protect public safety using existing laws on mischief, intimidation, threats and harassment.

The bill would not create “bubble zones” to prohibit protests around designated buildings. Such zones have to be ordered by provinces or municipalities.

Justice Minister Sean Fraser told reporters Friday the bill “goes to great lengths to specifically protect the ability of Canadians to take part in peaceful protests.”

The bill also would make it a criminal offence to wilfully promote hate through the use of hate symbols, and create a new category of hate crime which would be layered on top of existing offences.

By Anja Karadeglija.