The bill’s framing and priorities have drawn sharp criticism, particularly for its apparent silence on the alarming wave of arsons and vandalism targeting Christian churches across Canada.
Newsroom (24/09/2025, Gaudium Press ) The Canadian federal government’s introduction of Bill C-9, the Combatting Hate Act, has sparked a polarized debate, with its stated aim to curb rising anti-Semitism, Islamophobia, homophobia, and transphobia. The legislation, tabled by Minister of Justice and Attorney General Sean Fraser in early 2025, seeks to amend the Criminal Code to address hate-motivated crimes more decisively. However, the bill’s framing and priorities have drawn sharp criticism from some quarters, particularly for its apparent silence on the alarming wave of arsons and vandalism targeting Christian churches across Canada.
The opening line of the government’s press release introducing Bill C-9 reads: “Rising anti-Semitism, Islamophobia, homophobia and transphobia have left too many people feeling unsafe in their own communities.” Missing from this statement, critics argue, is any acknowledgment of the over 300 documented incidents of arson and vandalism against Christian churches since 2021, the majority of which targeted Catholic institutions. Phil Horgan, president and general counsel of the Catholic Civil Rights League, has been vocal in highlighting this omission. “The extensive losses to Christian church properties over the past four years appear to be of little interest to the federal government,” Horgan told The Catholic Register.
Details of Bill C-9
Bill C-9 proposes several amendments to the Criminal Code aimed at strengthening protections against hate-motivated acts:
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Criminalizing Intimidation: The bill would make it a crime to knowingly intimidate or obstruct individuals from accessing places of worship, community centers, schools, or other spaces used by identifiable groups, with penalties of up to 10 years in prison.
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Specific Hate-Motivated Offense: It introduces a distinct hate-motivated crime offense to ensure such acts are explicitly denounced and perpetrators held accountable.
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Banning Hate Symbols: The legislation establishes a criminal offense for intentionally displaying “certain terrorism or hate symbols” in public.
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Streamlining Prosecutions: It removes the requirement for Attorney General consent to lay hate propaganda charges, aiming to expedite the prosecution of hate-related crimes.
While these measures have been framed as a robust response to hate, Horgan argues they are “at odds” with the government’s response—or lack thereof—to the destruction of Christian places of worship. Between October 2023 and October 2024, three motions in Parliament calling for the denouncement of church arsons were defeated, a fact Horgan cites as evidence of political indifference. He contends that existing laws, if enforced, are sufficient to address hate-related incidents, rendering Bill C-9 redundant.
The Church Arson Crisis
Since 2021, Canada has seen a disturbing surge in attacks on Christian churches, with Catholic institutions bearing the brunt. According to data compiled by Gaudium Press, over 300 incidents of arson, vandalism, and desecration have been recorded, many linked to public outrage over historical abuses at residential schools once operated by the Catholic Church. Notable cases include the burning of St. Jean Baptiste Church in Morinville, Alberta, in June 2021, which was reduced to ashes, and the destruction of Sacred Heart Church on Penticton Indian Band land in British Columbia. These acts have caused millions in damages and left communities grappling with fear and loss.
Horgan argues that existing Criminal Code provisions could address these crimes if properly enforced. Section 423 prohibits intentional intimidation, such as blocking highways, while Section 430 defines mischief as obstructing or interfering with the lawful use of property. Section 65 further bans concealing one’s identity during criminal acts, a provision relevant to some vandalism cases where perpetrators have masked their identities. “Rather than introduce new legislation to denounce hate speech, a more immediate solution would be to enforce existing laws and provide greater resources to allow investigations that would lead to charges for actual offences that have already occurred,” Horgan wrote.
Support and Concerns Surrounding Bill C-9
While Horgan and others question the necessity of Bill C-9, some faith groups have welcomed its introduction. Noah Shack, CEO of the Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs (CIJA), praised the legislation as a critical step in addressing the 900 hate crimes targeting Jewish Canadians in 2023, which accounted for 70 percent of religion-based hate incidents reported to police, according to a March 2025 Statistics Canada report. “This legislation, tabled in the first week of Parliament, is an important signal of government action to confront serious threats facing Canada’s Jewish community,” Shack said. “No Canadian should be targeted when dropping their kids off at school, visiting an elderly parent, or attending religious service.”
However, the Canadian Civil Liberties Association (CCLA) has raised significant concerns about the bill’s potential to infringe on free expression. Anaïs Bussières McNicoll, director of the CCLA’s Fundamental Freedoms program, warned that the proposed intimidation offense is overly broad and could criminalize peaceful protests deemed disruptive. “As drafted, Bill C-9 risks criminalizing some forms of protected speech and peaceful protest—two cornerstones of a free and democratic society—around tens of thousands of community gathering spaces in Canada,” she said. The CCLA highlighted the severe penalty of up to 10 years in prison as a potential deterrent to activism, which could silence dissent.
A Call for Balance
The debate over Bill C-9 underscores a broader tension between combating hate and preserving civil liberties. For Catholic leaders like Horgan, the government’s focus on new legislation feels like a misstep when existing laws could address the ongoing destruction of churches if prioritized. The lack of explicit acknowledgment of these attacks in the bill’s framing has fueled perceptions of selective concern, particularly when contrasted with the swift response to hate crimes against other communities.
As Bill C-9 moves through Parliament, its proponents argue it will provide essential tools to protect vulnerable groups. Critics, however, urge a more balanced approach—one that enforces existing laws to address all forms of hate, including the targeted destruction of Christian churches, while safeguarding the right to peaceful protest. With Canada’s diverse communities watching closely, the outcome of this legislative effort will likely shape perceptions of justice and inclusivity for years to come.
- Raju Hasmukh with files from Catholic Register
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