To Canada’s federal political leaders:

I am deeply concerned over Bill C-9 and the government’s decision to remove the religious-belief exemption from Canada’s hate-speech laws — a change that would expose ordinary Christians, Jews, and other people of faith to criminal penalties for expressing long-held religious teachings. This proposal does nothing to address actual violence or extremism; the Criminal Code already provides those tools. Instead, Bill C-9 creates a political weapon that will be used against peaceful citizens whose only “offence” is holding beliefs the government finds unfashionable.

At a time when extremist demonstrations go unchecked and when more than 100 churches were vandalized or burned with little federal response, it is unacceptable for Parliament to target the very communities that were harmed while ignoring those responsible. Faith leaders, volunteers, parents, and congregations must not be branded as threats for practising or expressing their religious convictions.

I call on all Members of Parliament and Senators to immediately halt Bill C-9, preserve the existing religious-belief exemption in full, and reaffirm Canada’s longstanding commitment to freedom of conscience, belief, expression, and worship. Religious liberty is a foundational Canadian value, and it must not be legislated away.