It removes protection for religious speech, meaning if a pastor preaches on biblical sexuality, for example, he could go to prison.
Bill C-9, known as the Combating Hate Act, cancels an existing religious exemption that allows for "opinion(s) based on a … religious text."
The Conservatives aggressively pushed back against the inclusion of the clause that would remove that exemption, arguing it amounted to an "assault" on religious freedoms.
Civil liberties groups including the Canadian Civil Liberties Association have also raised concerns about the bill, arguing it could criminalize peaceful protest and silence unpopular expression.
It's the latest assault on religious freedom in Canada, a battle that has seen Calgary Pastor Artur Pawlowski in prison several times over the years, including during the COVID-19 pandemic. He spoke this week to Canadian Pastors and had a sobering message for them.
“For me, it's a regular day in the office, if you will. But you should be worried because if you are not trained to fight, to stand, you're going to cave just like you did during the COVID era. I mean, 99.9% of the churches closed, pastors caved in, they broke, they panicked. They were terrified. I mean, courage is almost unheard of in our Canadian churches.”
The Senate can approve, amend or delay legislation.
Pawlowski sees Bill C-9 as another opportunity for the Canadian church to rise to the occasion.
“Now we have a second test, and that test, I pray, and I hope that the church will pass because if we do not, some more tests are coming.”
Pawlowski says he has his doubts as to whether the Canadian church will pass this test. He has no doubt about his response.
“I want you to know, I have absolutely no intention of stopping what I'm doing. I'll preach the whole Bible from the Genesis to the Revelation. I will not bend my knee to the golden image of Nebuchadnezzar.”
