EXCLUSIVE: Justice Canada says Bill C-9 won't apply retroactively amid free speech concerns
Justice Canada says the new “hate speech” law cannot be applied to old social media posts and insists “good faith” religious expression remains protected.
Toronto police briefly stopped a Rebel News digital billboard truck to investigate a complaint about its message Friday, as concerns mount over how Canada’s newly expanded hate speech laws could affect public expression both online and offline.
The truck, displaying a paid advertisement from the Canadian Women’s Sex-Based Rights (CAWSBAR), was pulled over by Toronto police after a complaint alleged the billboard could constitute a hate crime.
The advertisement argued that women and girls deserve “safety on the field, privacy and dignity in the locker room, and fairness on the podium,” while stating that “males are invading female sports” and directing viewers to the group’s campaign website.
After investigating, officers took no enforcement action and allowed the truck to continue operating.
