The Liberal government has introduced legislation to create four new hate-related criminal offences — including one criminalizing the use of Nazi and terrorist-related symbols.
Justice Minister Sean Fraser said Friday the bill would make it a criminal offence to wilfully promote hate through the use of hate symbols. That designation would apply to two Nazi symbols — the swastika and the SS bolt — and symbols of designated terrorist entities.
Fraser told reporters on Parliament Hill it's not a "blanket ban" on particular symbols.
"When you're dealing with a scenario where police may lay charges and the Crown may choose to prosecute, it is an extremely fact-dependent analysis thatwill depend heavily on the … specifics that happen in a given instance," he said.
The bill would also create new crimes of obstruction and intimidation aimed at protecting places of worship and institutions — including schools, daycares and seniors' residences — used by an identifiable group.
A press release noted the bill would not enact "bubble zones" to prohibit protests around designated buildings. Such zones have to be enacted by provinces and municipalities.
Fraser said his bill would "ensure those who gather to practise their faith at religious institutions, schools, community centres and other buildings and structures that primarily serve identifiable communities will have the ability to do so freely and without fear that they will be targeted because of who they are."
The bill would also create a new category of hate crime which would be layered on top of existing offences and would apply in cases where the crime was motivated by hate towards the victim, he said.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 19, 2025.
