For a little more information on this issue, take a look at
Svend Robinson's Website.
Quote:
WE ARE IN DANGER OF LOSING THIS BILL because of the flood of e-mails and letters coming in to MPs from those who oppose the bill, mainly from the religious right. As well, Canadian Alliance MPs (who have voted against every bill that has ever come before the House to extend equality to gays and lesbians) are fanning the flames with outrageous attacks on the bill. They claim that the bill would make religious texts like the Bible illegal. This is absolutely false: both the Charter of Rights and the Criminal Code already protect freedom of religious expression.
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That's it - straight from the horse's mouth.
Already, hate crime laws exist in Canada. All this bill is doing is adding discrimination against sexual orientation to the definition of a hate crime. Will people be prosecuted for voicing their opinion? No. Will people be prosecuted for voicing their opinion with the intent to instigate violence/hatred towards others? Yes.
The Bill's text:
Quote:
An Act to amend the Criminal Code (hate propaganda)
Her Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate and House of Commons of Canada, enacts as follows:
1. Subsection 318(4) of the Criminal Code is replaced by the following:
Definition of ``identifiable group''
(4) In this section, ``identifiable group'' means any section of the public distinguished by colour, race, religion, ethnic origin or sexual orientation .
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And
here is the section of the criminal code that this would modify. Also reference section 319 on the same page.
Edit - btw, this bill just passed the commons vote - 141-110. So it is *very* close to becoming law.