In June 2026, a claim circulated widely across social media stating that Canada had passed legislation criminalizing the public reading or quoting of the Bible.
This claim is false. The rumor misrepresented Bill C-9, also known as the Combatting Hate Act. While this legislation did pass and receive royal assent on June 18, 2026, taking effect 30 days later, it does not ban Scripture or make quoting the Bible illegal.
Instead, Bill C-9 amends the Criminal Code by removing a specific legal defense that was previously available in certain hate-propaganda cases. This defense related to the expression of opinions on religious subjects or texts. The new law clarifies that statements on public matters, including religious discussions, are not prohibited unless they “willfully promote hatred against an identifiable group.” The bill also defines “hatred” as an intense and extreme emotion associated with vilification and detestation, and clarifies that an offense is not motivated by hatred solely because it discredits, humiliates, hurts, or offends.
Therefore, reading the Bible in public, posting Bible verses online, or quoting Scripture does not automatically become a criminal offense under Bill C-9. The legislation targets the promotion of hatred, not religious expression itself.
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