Retain section 319(3.1)(b)
Petitioners ask the Minister to keep Criminal Code section 319(3.1)(b) and protect the right to read and share sacred texts. The government responds that existing law and Bill C-9 protect good-faith religious expression.
Why we would sign this petition
- Keeps a legal safeguard so reading, teaching and sharing sacred texts in good faith are not subject to criminal prosecution.
- Prevents government interference in religious interpretation by affirming that faith teachings won’t be criminalized.
- Offers reassurance to religious communities worried ordinary worship and scripture sharing could be targeted.
Why we wouldn’t sign this petition
- Removing the provision may be needed to better prosecute extreme, dehumanizing hate speech and protect vulnerable groups; this is a public‑safety trade‑off.
- Courts already set a high legal threshold for hate‑speech convictions, so retaining the provision may be unnecessary to protect good‑faith expression.
- Parliament and Bill C‑9 include clarifying language intended to balance religious freedom with hate‑speech protections, which may address concerns without keeping the old wording.
The summary and both sets of reasons are AI-generated from the petition and given equal weight. Claims are the petitioners’ own; consult the official record for the full text.
Official petition
Petition to the Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada Whereas: • Freedom of expression and freedom of religion are fundamental rights that must be preserved; • The government of Canada should not interfere in the interpretation of religious texts or teachings of any faith community; • Canadians are concerned about a proposed amendment to Bill C-9 that could be used to criminalize the reading and sharing of passages from the Bible, the Quran, the Torah, and other sacred texts. We, the undersigned, Citizens of Canada, call upon the Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada to: 1) Not proceed with any legislation that proposes to remove Section 319 (3.1) (b) from the Criminal Code; and 2) Protect religious freedom, uphold the right to read and share religious texts, and prevent government overreach into matters of faith.
Government response
Response by the Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada and Minister responsible for the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency Signed by The Parliamentary Secretary Patricia Lattanzio The Government of Canada’s commitment to freedom of religion is unwavering. Freedom of religion is explicitly protected under section 2(a) of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms and has been consistently upheld by Canadian courts. All Canadians are free to pray, preach, teach, interpret scripture, and express religious belief in good faith without fear of violence, intimidation, or criminal sanction. Canada is facing a troubling rise in hate speech and hate crimes. To better protect all people in Canada, including their ability to worship, gather, and practise their faith in daily life, the Government of Canada introduced Bill C-9, the Combatting Hate Act, in the House of Commons on September 19, 2025. As part of Parliament’s consideration of this legislation, the House of Commons Standing Committee on Justice and Human Rights adopted an amendment on December 9, 2025, repealing what is commonly referred to as the good faith religious opinion provision in the Criminal Code. This amendment reflects longstanding legal principles already recognized by Canadian courts. Crucially, Canada’s hate propaganda laws already set a very high threshold. Prosecutors must prove a deliberate intent to promote hatred, which the Supreme Court of Canada has defined as extreme and dehumanizing expression that goes far beyond mere offence or disagreement. Only the most dangerous forms of hate, including speech that vilifies, dehumanizes, or incites harm against an identifiable group, are captured by the Criminal Code. Religious sermons, teachings, and the reading or sharing of sacred texts in good faith do not meet this standard and are not criminalized. In addition, on March 11, 2026, the Standing Committee on Justice and Human Rights adopted a clause for greater certainty in Bill C-9. This clause codifies in clear statutory language what has always been the case in Canadian law: that good faith religious, educational, political, or academic discussion on matters of public interest is not prohibited. The Government of Canada remains firmly committed to protecting religious freedom. A strong Canada safeguards every person’s right to worship freely and to share their faith, while ensuring that no one is subjected to the most extreme forms of hatred that threaten public safety, dignity, and social cohesion.