OTTAWA — Conservatives say a deal between Liberals and the Bloc Québécois to remove a religious exemption from hate-speech laws in exchange for passing a bill targeting hate and terror symbols is an “assault” on freedom of speech and religion. Article content

But the Bloc Québécois said the change was necessary to help prosecute rising hateful and antisemitic rhetoric, often made under the guise of exempted religious speech. Article content

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Both parties were reacting to a National Post report Monday that the governing Liberals and opposition Bloc had agreed to add an amendment to Bill C-9 removing what is frequently referred to as the “religious exemption” in exchange for the Bloc’s support for the legislation.

Currently, the law exempts hateful

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