Freedom of speech – Page 4

Liberals to support Bloc move to remove religious exemption from hate speech laws on Tuesday: source

OTTAWA — After a week of delays and uncertainty, the Liberals say a deal is back on the rails with the Bloc Québécois to remove religious exemptions from Canada’s hate-speech laws in exchange for support to help pass the government’s bill targeting hate and terror symbols.

A senior government source confirmed to National Post that the Liberals on the House of Commons justice committee, which is currently doing a clause-by-clause study of Bill C-9, are expected to support a Bloc amendment to the legislation that will remove the controversial exemption during a Tuesday afternoon meeting.

by Blazingcatfur•December 9, 2025December 9, 2025•0•Canada's Corrupt Liberal Government, freedom of religious expression, Freedom of speech

The Meaning of Hate

In November, the Daily Sceptic reported that a policeman had told a Christian preacher that some words painted on his van “could be seen as hate speech in the wrong context”. The words were a Biblical verse: Chapter 3, verse 16 of the Gospel according to John, “For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life.”

by Blazingcatfur•December 9, 2025December 8, 2025•0•freedom of religious expression, Freedom of speech

Anti-hate bill stalled after Fraser’s office brokered deal without PMO approval: sources

The future of the federal government’s anti-hate Bill C-9 is unclear after Justice Minister Sean Fraser’s office brokered a deal with the Bloc Québécois without getting it approved by the Prime Minister’s Office, sources tell CBC News.

Bill C-9 proposes new Criminal Code offences, including one that would make it a crime to intentionally promote hatred against identifiable groups in public using certain hate- or terrorism-related symbols.

It would also make hate-motivated crimes a specific offence and crack down on wilfully intimidating and obstructing people outside places of worship.

Smoke and mirrors. That bill will pass.

by Blazingcatfur•December 8, 2025December 8, 2025•0•freedom of religious expression, Freedom of speech

Christine Van Geyn: Changes to Bill C-9 aren’t combating hate — they’re criminalizing faith

To secure Bloc Québécois support for its censorious Bill C-9, the Liberals have reportedly agreed to a troubling trade: removing the long-standing religious defence from Canada’s hate-speech laws. This would be a mistake.

Bill C-9, the Carney government’s combating hate act, would expand criminal prohibitions on expression and increase penalties for speech offences, including online speech. Now, the bill may also gut the defence that protects good-faith religious opinion or speech rooted in religious texts.

by Blazingcatfur•December 5, 2025December 5, 2025•0•Canada's Corrupt Liberal Government, freedom of religious expression, Freedom of speech

Conservatives say removal of religious exemption in hate-speech laws an assault on freedom of speech

OTTAWA — Conservatives say a deal between Liberals and the Bloc Québécois to remove a religious exemption from hate-speech laws in exchange for passing a bill targeting hate and terror symbols is an “assault” on freedom of speech and religion.

But the Bloc Québécois said the change was necessary to help prosecute rising hateful and antisemitic rhetoric, often made under the guise of exempted religious speech.

by Blazingcatfur•December 2, 2025December 1, 2025•0•freedom of religious expression, Freedom of speech

Liberal deal with Bloc means hate-speech laws will lose exemption for ‘sincerely held’ religious belief

OTTAWA — The Liberals have agreed to remove religious exemptions from Canada’s hate-speech laws to secure Bloc Québécois support to help pass its bill targeting hate and terror symbols, National Post has learned through a source close to the talks.

Currently, the law exempts hateful or antisemitic speech if it based in good faith on the interpretation of a religious text, but that immunity is set to be removed. Additionally, the Liberals are expected to back off plans to eliminate the need for a provincial attorney general’s sign-off to pursue a hate-propaganda prosecution.

Fearless Prediction: Christians will bear the overwhelming brunt of prosecutions and Islamists will face few if any.

From Occam’s Razor

by Blazingcatfur•December 1, 2025December 1, 2025•0•Canada's Corrupt Liberal Government, freedom of religious expression, Freedom of speech

IS CANADA NEXT: The speech-law epidemic infecting the globe

From the UK to Iceland, it seems speech laws are taking over Europe.

What’s worse — this may not just be a trend for our European neighbors, but could also apply to North America — namely Canada.

Canada has free speech laws — known as freedom of expression under section 2(b) of the Charter of Rights and Freedoms.

(Incognito)

by Blazingcatfur•November 30, 2025November 29, 2025•0•Freedom of speech

How the UK Police Criminalised Christian Speech

Forget terror plots, knife crime, or rampant theft, Britain’s police have bigger things to worry about—Christian street preachers. Shaun O’Sullivan, a 36-year-old preacher at the evangelical Awaken church in Swindon, was acquitted unanimously by a jury last week at Crown Court. He faced charges of racial and religious harassment against Muslims for saying the words: “Pray for the Jews and pray for the Palestinians.” This culminated in a six-day trial, costing an estimated £20,000.

by Blazingcatfur•November 25, 2025November 24, 2025•0•freedom of religious expression, Freedom of speech, UK

Free speech documentary cancelled by London cinema

A London cinema has banned a documentary about free speech because it does not “align with our values and mission”.

Think Before You Post was due to play at Rich Mix in east London on November 25, followed by a Q&A session with contributors, before its producers were informed that the venue had decided against hosting the event.

Tom Slater, the editor of Spiked magazine, the libertarian publication behind the film, said he was sadly not surprised by the decision.

by Blazingcatfur•November 21, 2025November 20, 2025•0•"Cancel Culture", Freedom of speech, WTF?

Finland’s ‘Bible Tweet’ Case Will Decide Freedom of Speech in Europe

Finland’s Supreme Court on Thursday opened hearings against parliamentarian Dr. Päivi Räsänen and Bishop Juhana Pohjola in the infamous ‘Bible Tweet’ case, which many consider a defining moment for free speech and religious liberty in Europe. Both stand accused of ‘hate speech’ over public statements and writings expressing their Christian views on marriage and sexuality.

by Blazingcatfur•October 31, 2025October 31, 2025•0•freedom of religious expression, Freedom of speech

Stop being polite and start demanding free speech, one Canadian researcher argues after Kirk shooting

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Following the murder of Charlie Kirk, the Heritage Foundation’s Liana Graham, a research assistant for domestic policy, was inspired by headlines she saw in the Canadian press about Kirk’s assassination to write an op-ed arguing that Canadian censorship and silencing of dissent lead to a dehumanizing culture that invites political violence.

In turn, the National Post reached out to Graham, a dual citizen of both Canada and the United States, to discuss what she sees as the political and media forces impacting censorship and free expression in Canada.

This interview has been condensed for length and clarity.

by Blazingcatfur•October 24, 2025October 23, 2025•0•Canada, Freedom of speech, Freedom of speech - at risk in Canada, USA

HORTON: The Combatting Hate Act: A dangerous step toward symbolic censorship

For those who may not be aware, the Combatting Hate Act — proposed chiefly by Justice Minister Sean Fraser — is a piece of legislation intended to protect communities and places of worship from hate crimes. At its core, the bill seeks to criminalize the display of hate symbols. Examples include the swastika, the double-sig rune, and other insignia associated with terrorist organizations, as outlined in the Criminal Code.

by Blazingcatfur•October 3, 2025October 2, 2025•0•Canada, Canada's Corrupt Liberal Government, Freedom of speech

Conservative MP Leslyn Lewis warns Liberals’ ‘hate’ bill will allow for prosecution of free speech

Canadian Conservative Party MP Leslyn Lewis blasted a new Liberal “hate crime” bill, calling it a “dangerous” piece of legislation that she says will open the door for authorities to possibly prosecute Canadians’ speech deemed “hateful.”

In an X post on Tuesday, Lewis slammed the Liberal government’s Bill C-9, or the Combating Hate Act, in a scathing post.

Lewis observed that the bill, as written, “expands state power to prosecute speech under unclear rules and with fewer checks on government abuse.”

by Blazingcatfur•September 26, 2025September 26, 2025•0•"Criminalizing Dissent", Canada's Corrupt Liberal Government, Freedom of speech

Afraid to speak: Canada’s quiet majority is biting its tongue

The assassination of American conservative activist Charlie Kirk at Utah Valley University is a brutal reminder that politics across North America is running hot. We grieve the loss of life. We also ought to ask what this political climate is doing to regular Canadians — because many are now scared to say what they think, especially when they believe they’re in the minority.

(Incognito)

by Blazingcatfur•September 19, 2025September 18, 2025•0•Freedom of speech

The Iron Mukluk Comes Down in Canada

Sean Feucht, an American Christian conservative Trump-supporting rocker, had Canadian concerts banned from Nova Scotia to British Columbia. And Montreal is actually fining a church $2500 for having the “audacity” to host one of his events. Those who find Feucht “offensive” are always free not to attend his performances. But show some basic decency to others who might wish to hear him. Live and let live. Leave others alone and respect their right to do as they please, just as they must respect your personal freedoms.

by Blazingcatfur•September 8, 2025September 7, 2025•0•Canada, Freedom of speech