Federal politics has been abuzz since the National Post’s scoop that the governing Liberals have struck a deal with the Bloc Québécois to pass their hate crime reform bill by eliminating the special defence of religious belief to the criminal charge of wilful promotion of hate. Civil society and religious groups have expressed concern that the move puts the faithful at legal risk and could chill religious discourse with the threat of prosecution. The National Post explains the religious defence, where it came from, how it has been used, and how it guides controversial prosecutorial decisions about criminal hate speech.

What is the good faith religious belief defence?

To publicly and wilfully communicate statements that promote hatred of an identifiable group, according to Section 319(2)

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