OPEN LETTER: Immediate Call for Rejection of Bill C-9 and the Criminal Code Amendment Eliminating the Good Faith Defence

Re: Bill C-9 (The Combatting Hate Act) and the repeal of Criminal Code s. 319(3)(b) Honourable Minister of Justice and Member of Parliament, As the Canadian MuslimCMP Public Affairs Council (CMPAC) and the Canadian Muslim Health Network (CMHN),we are formally expressing our deep concern regarding Bill C-9 and the government’s advancement of an amendment that […]

Read more

CMPAC Commentary on Bill C-9 Committee Deliberations

The Canadian Muslim Public Affairs Council (CMPAC) calls on the Chair of the Justice Committee to rule any amendment creating a new “promotion of terrorist activity or terrorist groups” offence as out of order. The proposed amendment would introduce a separate and distinct Criminal Code regime for terrorism offences under Part II.1. Bill C-9’s mandate, […]

Read more

CMPAC Brief on the Proposed Amendment to Remove the “Good-Faith Religious Text” Defence in s.319 of the Criminal Code (Bill C-9 Amendment)

Friday, December 5, 2025 Executive Summary In this brief, CMPAC provides input on the proposed amendment to Bill C-9 that would repeal the “good-faith” religious-text defence under s.319(3)(b) of the Criminal Code. CMPAC represents diverse Muslim communities across Canada and conducts research on structural Islamophobia, and the protection of our civil liberties and our constitutional […]

Read more

JOINT STATEMENT – Bill C-9 Should Not Be Passed: A Cross-Country Multi Faith Canadian Call to Defend Civil Liberties

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE December 1, 2025 – We, the undersigned multi faith, civil liberties and community organizations, collectively reject Bill C-9 – An Act to amend the Criminal Code, the so-called “Combatting Hate Act.” As Bill C-9 proceeds through the Parliamentary process, we emphasize that this bill shouldn’t be passed. The risks it poses to […]

Read more

CMPAC Secondary Analysis of Bill C‑9: Focused Issues for Faith‑Based Communities and Emerging Concerns from Committee Proceedings

This secondary analysis of Bill C-9: Combatting Hate Act builds on CMPAC’s initial submission to the House of Commons Justice Committee. It focuses on emerging issues identified during recent committee proceedings, with a particular emphasis on risks for faith-based communities. The analysis highlights two areas of immediate concern: the potential reinterpretation of the Criminal Code’s […]

Read more

The Double Standard We Don’t Name: How Selective Outrage Pushes Muslims Out of Public Life

In Canada’s public buildings, we make room for wellness rooms, lactation spaces, flexible breaks for health and caregiving. Yet when Muslims request a quiet space to pray or when a public official names anti-Palestinian racism suddenly ordinary inclusion is cast as a breach of “neutrality.” What is routine for some becomes suspect for others. The […]

Read more

Joint Letter to the Minister of Canadian Identity and Culture: Canadians Stand with Amira Elghawaby

October 28, 2025 The Honourable Steven Guilbeault, Minister of Canadian Identity and Culture15 Eddy StreetGatineau, Quebec, J8X 4B3 RE: Joint Letter to the Minister of Canadian Identity and Culture: Canadians Stand with Amira Elghawaby Dear Minister Steven Guilbeault, We, the undersigned, representing community, faith based, Muslim, and advocacy organizations from across Canada, express our unequivocal support […]

Read more

Joint Letter from Civil Liberties Organizations Regarding Bill C-9: Combatting Hate Act

The Canadian Civil Liberties Association (CCLA), in collaboration with the Canadian Muslim Public Affairs Council (CMPAC), has co-authored a joint open letter, signed by 37 civil liberties and community organizations, raising concerns about Bill C-9, An Act to amend the Criminal Code (hate propaganda, hate crime and access to religious or cultural places). The letter […]

Read more