Status: Passed 1st reading in the House of Commons
Description: Bill C-254 seeks to add a prohibition to the Criminal Code regarding the wilful promotion of hatred against Indigenous peoples by “condoning, denying, downplaying or justifying the Indian residential school system in Canada or by misrepresenting facts relating to it.” This prohibition is similar to an already-existing prohibition on the wilful promotion of antisemitism.
Analysis: Canadians have different perspectives on issues including residential schools, and should be permitted to disagree and dialogue about such topics. Singling out particular groups or events in the Criminal Code risks censoring speech that is not hateful but is instead politically unpopular.
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