The Liberal government is proposing “draconian penalties” in the Criminal Code as part of its sweeping plan to target online hate, the Canadian Civil Liberties Association warns.
Justice Minister Arif Virani tabled the long-awaited bill earlier this week, billed as a way to address dangers that children face online.
It also includes the introduction of stiffer penalties for hate offences.
The bill proposes increasing the maximum punishment for advocating genocide to life imprisonment, and allowing sentences of up to five years in prison for other hate propaganda offences.