Bill C-9: Motion to End Ongoing Debates

Motion to End Debate

On March 9, 2026, the Justice Committee (Committee) will vote on a motion that would end the ongoing debates on Bill C-9. If adopted, the motion will eliminate ongoing discussion of concerns about Bill C-9 during the Committee’s review process.

The ongoing debate in the House of Commons has prompted the Leader of the Government in the House of Commons to introduce a motion directing the Committee to:

1. Prioritize Bill C-9 above all other Committee business; ;
2. Resume section-by-section consideration of Bill C-9 at the next Committee meeting;
3. Cease further debates about Bill C-9. The Committee would immediately vote on each section and amendment.   The meeting would continue until the Committee completed its review of Bill C-9; and
4. Have the Chair of the Committee report Bill C-9 to the House of Commons within two sitting days after the review.

The motion establishes strict timelines for the Committee’s consideration of Bill C-9  in order to move it through the legislative process. The purpose of this Motion was to end ongoing debates and quickly allow for the passage of Bill C-9 into law.

CCCC has published our concerns about Bill C-9 in recent blogs and has written to the Justice Committee on the potential impact Bill C-9 would have on the freedom of expression. As Bill C-9 is currently drafted, CCCC recognizes that the term “hatred” is subject to broad interpretation. This may lead to inconsistent and subjective application if Bill C-9 became law. We are also concerned about proposals to remove the good-faith religious defence to hate speech allegations and intend to follow up with the Minister of Justice on our position.

Proposed Amendments to Bill C-9

Most recently, debate at the Committee has centered around proposed amendments, from both supporters and opponents of the Bill. Committee Members of the Justice Committee who are generally supportive of the legislation have proposed an amendment to the Bill.

Critics of this amendment see the reasoning as circular – your religious communication is not hate propaganda if it does not wilfully promote hatred – and don’t agree that it actually provides any more certainty. In response, then, those critics proposed further amendments (indicated in “strikethrough” text):

11.1(1) For greater certainty, nothing in subsection 319(2) or (2.2) of the Criminal Code shall be construed as prohibiting a person from communicating a statement on a matter of public interest, including an educational, religious, political or scientific statement made in the course of a discussion, publication or debate, if they do not wilfully promote hatred against an identifiable group by communicating the statement.

(2) For greater certainty, nothing in subsection 319(2.1) of the Criminal Code shall be construed as prohibiting a person from communicating a statement on a matter of public interest, including an educational, religious, political or scientific statement made in the course of a discussion, publication or debate, if they do not wilfully promote antisemitism by condoning, denying or downplaying the Holocaust.

C-9 Rally in Ottawa

The Association for Reformed Political Action (ARPA) Canada is organizing a rally on Parliament Hill to raise awareness of the impact of Bill C-9 on Thursday March 12, 2026. Please visit ARPA’s website for further details.

We encourage members to reach out to their local MPs about their concerns regarding Bill C-9 using the resources we have shared in our previous blogs.

CCCC will write a follow up letter to the Minister of Justice about our concerns over Bill C-9, and we will be sure to share any important updates on the progress of Bill C-9 here on our blog.