Protect Religious Freedom

February 6, 2026

“The Liberals’ proposed amendment to Bill C-9 is clearly an unprecedented attack on religious freedom. Under current law, Canada’s hate-speech provisions include a defence for people who, in good faith, express arguments or opinions based on their religious beliefs or sacred texts.

The Supreme Court has recognized this safeguard as essential to keeping these laws constitutional and to protecting freedom of expression and freedom of religion. Bill C-9 removes this safeguard.

This amendment will not make Canadians safer, but will instead put people of faith at risk for possible criminal prosecution, simply for quoting or discussing their own sacred texts.

Calls for violence, such as advocating genocide or inciting public hatred, are already illegal under existing Criminal Code sections, and there is no religious defence for those offences.

Conservatives will fight tooth and nail against this reckless and unprecedented attack on religious freedom by standing up for the Charter rights the Liberals are trying to tear down.”

Office of Ellis Ross, M.P. Skeena—Bulkley Valley