Canada’s Minister for Public Safety Marco Mendicino said that there would be a new bill targeting legal content on the internet that will be rushed through parliament this fall.
According to Blacklock’s Reporter, Mendicino said that the new bill would be introduced as soon as possible after MPs return to parliament this fall.
“I assure you that Heritage Minister Pablo Rodriguez and others within our government are leaning in on this and will bring forward the legislation as quickly as possible,” Mendicino told reporters.
“I know that Minister Rodriguez is very eager to bring forward this legislation,” Mendicino said.
“And others (Rodriguez and Attorney General David Lametti) within our government are very eager to take the feedback they have received,” he added.
Mendicino said that the new bill would “ensure” Canadians have “robust free speech.” But, he then said the bill would “also delineate some clear boundaries on what is not acceptable.”
Some have speculated that Mendicino’s new bill will be an introduction of the controversial Bill C-36, which was “an Act to amend the Criminal Code and the Canadian Human Rights Act and to make related amendments to another Act (hate propaganda, hate crimes and hate speech).”
The bill was introduced by Lametti in 2021 but did not pass because Trudeau called for an election.
The bill was met with heavy criticism, some describing it as a “hate speech” law that would give authorities the power to police speech. Some also feared it would be used to crush dissent.
The bill defined “hatred” as “the emotion that involves detestation or vilification and that is stronger than dislike or disdain.”
If it passed, those found guilty of online hate would face house arrest and fines of up to $70,000.
