Canada has passed new legislation aimed at strengthening protections against hate crimes, intimidation, and the wilful promotion of hatred.
The Department of Justice Canada announced on June 19, 2026, that the Combatting Hate Act (Bill C-9) has received Royal Assent. The new Criminal Code provisions will come into force on July 18, 2026.
The legislation introduces new offences, strengthens existing hate crime laws, and provides additional legal tools for responding to hate-motivated conduct.
What Was Announced
The new law introduces stronger protections for people accessing community spaces, creates a specific hate-motivated crime offence, adds a legal definition of hatred to the Criminal Code, and establishes a new hate propaganda offence related to the public display of certain terrorism and hate symbols.
The changes were developed following consultations with community groups, faith leaders, law enforcement agencies, and other stakeholders.
Key Changes Under the New Law
1. Stronger Protection for Places Where Communities Gather
The legislation makes it a criminal offence to intimidate or obstruct people from accessing places where communities gather.
This includes:
- Places of worship
- Schools
- Community centres
- Other places primarily used by an identifiable group
The new offence is intended to address conduct that prevents individuals from safely accessing these locations.
2. Hate-Motivated Crime Becomes a Specific Criminal Offence
The legislation makes hate-motivated crime a specific offence under the Criminal Code.
The change is intended to more clearly identify and denounce hate-motivated conduct while ensuring offenders can be held accountable under a dedicated offence.
3. A Legal Definition of Hatred Has Been Added
The Criminal Code now includes a formal definition of hatred.
In simple terms, hatred refers to an extreme form of hostility that goes beyond disagreement, criticism, or personal opinion and is associated with intense contempt or vilification of a group.
The legislation defines hatred as an emotion of an intense and extreme nature that is clearly associated with vilification and detestation. The definition reflects existing Supreme Court of Canada jurisprudence that courts have already been applying across the country.
4. New Hate Propaganda Offence Added
The legislation creates a new hate propaganda offence for the wilful promotion of hatred against an identifiable group through the public display of certain symbols.
These include:
- Symbols principally used by or associated with listed terrorist entities under the Criminal Code
- Two Nazi symbols identified in the legislation
- A noose
The offence applies only where there is wilful promotion of hatred against an identifiable group and remains subject to the legal thresholds established under Canadian law.
What the Law Does Not Do
The legislation specifically states that it does not:
- Criminalize religious teaching
- Restrict the ability to preach, read scripture, or practise religion
- Ban peaceful protest
- Restrict political advocacy
- Create “bubble zones” around schools, places of worship, or community facilities
- Criminalize opinions, disagreement, or criticism
Freedom of expression and freedom of religion continue to be protected under the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms.
The law also repeals a former good-faith religious opinion defence that applied to certain hate propaganda offences. However, the repeal does not criminalize religious teaching or prevent individuals from practising their faith in good faith.
Why Were the Changes Introduced?
The legislation comes amid a rise in police-reported hate crimes across Canada.
Information released alongside the announcement shows that the number of police-reported hate crimes more than doubled between 2018 and 2024.
Most reported incidents targeted race, ethnicity, or religion.
Among police-reported hate crimes targeting religion in 2024:
- 70% targeted Jewish communities
- 17% targeted Muslim communities
The data also shows that Black Canadians were the most frequently targeted victims of hate crimes motivated by race or ethnicity, accounting for 37% of such incidents in 2024.
Justice Minister Sean Fraser said the legislation responds to growing concerns about hate-motivated incidents and aims to strengthen protections for people gathering in their communities while providing law enforcement with clearer legal tools.
When Do the Changes Take Effect?
Although the legislation has already received Royal Assent, the new Criminal Code measures will come into force on July 18, 2026.
The Department of Justice stated that the provisions will take effect 30 days after Royal Assent.
What This Means for Canadians
Beginning July 18, 2026, Canada’s Criminal Code will contain stronger provisions addressing intimidation, obstruction of access to community spaces, hate-motivated crime, and the wilful promotion of hatred through certain hate and terrorism symbols.
The legislation also provides a statutory definition of hatred while maintaining existing constitutional protections for freedom of expression, freedom of religion, peaceful assembly, and political advocacy.
The new measures represent one of the most significant updates to Canada’s hate crime laws in recent years and are intended to strengthen protections for communities across the country.
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