Law professors warn Carney’s Bill C-9 could trigger politically motivated prosecutions

By Sheila Gunn Reid | Rebel News

In Brief by Rights Probe

October 23: Law professors Bruce Pardy and Ryan Alford voiced their concerns about Bill C-9, the Liberal government's proposed hate-speech legislation, during a gripping testimony before the House of Commons Justice Committee today.

They contend that this bill dangerously weakens safeguards against abuse, opening the door to politically motivated prosecutions by expanding the definition of hate speech and eliminating the need for attorney-general consent.

Prof. Pardy emphasized that this uncertainty could lead to confusion among citizens regarding permissible speech and warned that the government might exploit this to suppress unpopular opinions, similar to trends seen in the U.K. [Watch Prof. Pardy’s testimony here]

Prof. Alford echoed these concerns, suggesting that the Supreme Court may not adequately defend free speech rights if the bill is challenged, referencing a troubling narrow decision in a previous case involving offensive jokes. Both experts expressed fears that the legislation could lead to arrests for social media posts or political dissent, undermining democratic accountability and free expression in Canada.

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