Freedom of Speech

Pro-democracy activist Jimmy Lai sentenced to 20-year imprisonment

Junno Arocho Esteves · February 9, 2026

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.

Amid UK–China talks, Jimmy Lai’s daughter finds hope in faith, calls for his release

Paulina Guzik · January 29, 2026

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.

Hate speech Bill C-9 delayed

Free speech proponents hope it will be permanently shelved

Quinton Amundson · January 27, 2026

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.

Bill C-9 high on Parliament’s winter agenda

Quinton Amundson · January 21, 2026

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.

Freedom of religious expression on trial

Quinton Amundson · January 14, 2026

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 Jimmy Lai convicted in 'farce' national security trial

Paulina Guzik · December 15, 2025

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.

Bill C-9 debate pushed into new year

Justice and human rights committee suspends hearings until Parliament reconvenes in early 2026

Quinton Amundson · December 12, 2025

A charged justice and human rights committee debate over Bill C-9, the Combatting Hate Act, will persist into 2026 as the Liberal Chair, James Maloney, suspended sittings for the rest of the year.

Committee approves to remove religious speech defence in hate bill

Quinton Amundson · December 10, 2025

Liberal MPs on the justice and human rights committee voted Tuesday evening to approve a controversial Bloc Québécois amendment to Bill C-9 that removes the religious speech defence from Canada’s hate speech law.

Canada's bishops demand Liberals keep religious text protection in hate law

Quinton Amundson · December 5, 2025

The Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops (CCCB) is urging Prime Minister Mark Carney to retract the Liberal Party’s reported agreement with the Bloc Québécois to remove religious-belief exemptions from Canada’s hate speech laws.

Cyber security Bill C-8 passes second reading

Quinton Amundson · October 7, 2025

A piece of legislation drawing concern from various civil liberty groups and online rights organizations over the potential threats it poses to individual Canadians’ telephone and Internet access passed second reading in the House of Commons on Oct. 3.