Freedom of Speech

The 11 months since the 2025 federal election have seen the Liberals introduce several bills with significant digital policy implications: Bill C-2, Bill C-8 and, most recently, Bill C-22, tabled on March 12.

In a 186-144 vote, the House of Commons today closed debate on the controversial Bill C-9, the Combatting Hate Act, opening the door to remove the good faith religious speech protections in the Criminal Code.

A proposed amendment to Bill C-9, the Combatting Hate Act, will only create greater uncertainty, said Conservative MP Andrew Lawton.

The daughter of Jimmy Lai said that while the 20-year sentence he was given was heartbreaking, her family still trusts in "divine providence" for a solution.

Media entrepreneur and pro-democracy advocate Jimmy Lai, whose arrest nearly six years ago prompted outrage around the world, was sentenced to 20 years in prison.

As UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer visits China, Jimmy Lai’s daughter Claire urges his release, grounding her appeal in faith and highlighting the human rights stakes and her father’s deteriorating conditions.

Groups that opposed Bill C-9, the Combatting Hate Act and its threat to criminalize religious speech, are celebrating after the Standing Committee on Justice and Human Rights voted Jan. 26 to delay further consideration until after tackling Bill C-14, the Bail Reform and Sentencing Act.

Parliamentarians return to the House of Commons from their winter recess on Jan. 26, which will trigger renewed debate over Bill C-9, the Combatting Hate Act.

The Christian Heritage Party (CHP) of Canada and the Justice Centre for Constitutional Freedoms (JCCF) are taking to the courts next month to defend freedom of political and religious expression.

Hong Kong's prominent Catholic, media tycoon and pro-democracy campaigner Jimmy Lai has been convicted of national security offences under the city's controversial national security law.