OTTAWA, April 28, 2004 (LifeSiteNews.com) – This afternoon the Canadian Senate voted 59-11 for final passage of homosexual hate crime Bill C-250 which places the undefined term “sexual orientation” into Canada’s already contentious hate crime legislation. The vote was recorded and a list of those who voted for and against the bill will be available on Hansard. The new provision in the criminal code could readily open up prosecution of individuals and groups who express views considered by courts to be “publicly inciting hatred”
In order to be found guilty of an indictable offence under the code, which carries a penalty of up to two years in prison, a person must communicate statements, in a public place, which incite hatred against an identifiable group in such a way that there will likely be a breach of the peace. Legal experts consulted by LifeSiteNews.com confirmed that the language in the legislation is loose and open to widely varying interpretation.
Most of Canada’s major religious groups including Catholic, Evangelical, Jewish, and Muslim have issued severe warnings against the private member’s bill drafted by homosexual activist MP Svend Robinson who was recently caught on camera stealing a $50,000 ring from an auction. The Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police and the Canadian Professional Police Association have expressed consistent support for the bill, which is seen by many as a serious danger to freedom of speech and freedom of religion. The legislative change is set to take immediate effect once it has been given Royal Assent with the signature of the Governor General, which is merely a procedural formality. See the Hansard record of Tuesday’s Senate debate on C-250 at https://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2004/apr/040428a.html Part 1 https://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2004/apr/040428b.html part 2