Radio minute: C-9 in the Senate

June 3, 2026

Bill C-9 would remove the long-standing good-faith defence from Canada’s hate propaganda laws and could expose individuals to criminal prosecution for expressing sincerely held religious beliefs.

Canadians from every faith tradition and belief have come together in an extraordinary demonstration of civic engagement. Over 300,000 phone calls and letters have been sent, and organizations representing over one million Canadians signed a declaration calling on the Senate to restore the good-faith defence.

This coalition extends far beyond any single faith community. I was contacted by individual who as an atheist, valued hearing my view that all people place their faith somewhere—whether in God, in principles, or in ideas—and protecting sincere belief is a matter of freedom for everyone.

Conservative Senator Yonah Martin listened and introduced an amendment to restore the good-faith defence. It was defeated by a single vote.

That narrow margin demonstrates how important the C-9 debate remains and Canadians will continue to demand this government respect their freedoms of expression, conscience, and religion.