Justice Minister Sean Fraser is set to unveil new hate crime legislation in the upcoming days, focusing on bolstering laws related to bail and sentencing for violent crimes.
Fraser has indicated that the proposed legislation will not only fulfill election promises of safeguarding religious institutions from interference and threats but will also encompass measures to protect the wider community.
As part of their electoral commitments, the Liberals had pledged to criminalize actions that impede access to or intimidate individuals at places of worship, schools, or community hubs.
Following the October 7, 2023 Hamas attack on Israel and the subsequent conflict in Gaza, there has been a noticeable uptick in reported hate crimes, according to law enforcement agencies.
Fraser hints that certain elements of the upcoming bill may draw inspiration from hate crime regulations initially outlined in the Online Harm Act, which was shelved due to the election resetting legislative priorities.
The minister has outlined plans to introduce additional legislation addressing bail and sentencing reforms later in October.
(Source: The Canadian Press, September 16, 2025)