In Canada, the Conservative Party has expressed strong opposition to the Liberal government's proposed changes to Bill C-9, a piece of legislation aimed at addressing hate and terror symbols. The Liberals claim that adding 'clarifying language' will safeguard religious expressions from being categorized as hate speech. However, Conservatives argue that this language offers no real protection and label it as mere 'gaslighting'—an attempt to trivialize their concerns about the potential erosion of religious freedoms under the law. They contend that the fundamental issues with the bill have not been addressed, especially the controversial removal of the religious exemption in the hate-speech framework, which has led to significant debate between the Liberals and the Bloc Québécois.

The bill itself, spearheaded by the government led by Prime Minister Mark Carney, seeks to create new offenses specifically aimed at intimidation that prevents individuals from accessing places of worship or community centers associated with identifiable groups. Critics express that the language proposed in the bill could lead to unintended consequences, wherein sincere religious expression might be interpreted as promoting hate, thus putting religious freedoms at risk. The tensions surrounding this legislation highlight a broader national conversation on the balance between preventing hate speech and protecting individual liberties, particularly in a diverse sociopolitical landscape like Canada’s.

As Bill C-9 remains under committee scrutiny, the political landscape is charged with debates not only over the bill's implications but also the broader interpretations of hate speech and its effect on marginalized communities. The ongoing negotiations and disagreements between political parties signal that the outcome of this legislation could set significant precedents for how hate speech is legislated in Canada, impacting both free expression and the protection of vulnerable groups.