EXCLUSIVE: Lawyers say "residential school denialism" amendment criminalizes historical debate
Constitutional lawyers are raising alarm bells about new amendments to the Liberals' Bill C-9, “Combatting Hate Act,” which would criminalize “residential school denialism” and additional symbols.
Several civil liberties and constitutional litigation groups warn that recently passed amendments to the Liberals’ Bill C-9, the Combating Hate Act, which would criminalize additional symbols and add “residential school denialism” to the already controversial bill, will chill genuine historical inquiry and amount to legislated bias.
Constitutional lawyers, including those from the Free Speech Union of Canada, the Canadian Civil Liberties Association and Charter Advocates for Canada, appeared before the Canadian Senate’s human rights committee. However, many are now speaking out after learning the Senate has added further restrictions to the legislation.
The committee voted 7 - 1 to include “residential school denialism” in the bill, which has already received a plethora of criticism from religious groups and constitutional advocates, on Monday. Constitutional lawyers told Juno News that the bill, if passed in its current state with amendments, will engage the Charter of Rights and Freedoms and has the potential to chill speech.
