Canada proposes standalone hate crime offence under Bill C-9

The federal government has proposed legislation to create a standalone criminal offence for hate crimes, a change experts say could improve how such incidents are investigated and prosecuted in Canada. Bill C-9, which has passed the House of Commons and is now before a Senate committee, would establish specific charges for crimes motivated by hatred.

Currently, the Criminal Code contains provisions against hate propaganda, incitement, and mischief motivated by bias. For other crimes like assault or homicide, hatred is treated as an aggravating factor considered only at sentencing. According to Stephen Camp, a former police officer now with the Organization for the Prevention of Violence, this system has weaknesses. He stated that without a specific charge, a hate-motivated assault is often classified and prosecuted as a simple assault, causing the hate element to be lost. He argued that a standalone offence would lead to better identification, documentation, and investigation of these crimes.

The legislation was introduced amid a significant increase in reported hate crimes. Government data shows a 169 percent rise between 2018 and 2024, with incidents involving antisemitism and...