An Act to amend the Criminal Code (promotion of hatred against Indigenous peoples)

Bill C-254 in 45-1 was a Conservative Private Member's Bill amending the Criminal Code (R.S.C. 1985, c. C-46) to expand the offence of promotion of hatred against specific religious or ethnic groups. Brought after Statistics Canada reported a 71-percent year-over-year increase in police-reported hate crimes in 2021 versus 2020 (3,360 versus 1,950), with antisemitic and Islamophobic incidents growing particularly fast. Post-October-2023 Hamas-Israel conflict, B'nai Brith Canada documented a 109 percent increase in antisemitic incidents in 2023 versus 2022 (the highest on record in 41 years of tracking). The bill would have added section 319(2.5) creating specific aggravating circumstances for hate crimes targeting Jewish, Muslim, Sikh, and Hindu Canadians during religious observances. Did not pass second reading.