An exemption for "sincerely held" religious beliefs could be removed from Canada’s hate speech laws.
Legislation currently prohibits inciting “hatred against any identifiable group”, but exempts speech made in good faith which is grounded in the interpretation of a religious text.
The Liberal government is thought to have agreed to drop the protection to secure support from the Bloc Québécois, as reported by the National Post.
New laws targeting hate and terror symbols could also include an offence for blocking people from accessing their place of worship, according to the newspaper.
It comes after a rise in reported hate crimes, especially antisemitic incidents in the wake of the Israel-Hamas war. The proposed bill would criminalise displays of the Nazi swastika and SS symbols.
In October, the Christian Legal Fellowship (CLF) urged lawmakers to retain the exemption, saying it exists “to protect Canadians against imprisonment for good faith expression of sincerely held beliefs.”
The CLF said that it allows people to discuss controversial issues, as the government should not claim whether a religious claim is truthful or not, and protects good faith critique of religious texts.