Prison for Hate Crimes Someone Fears You Might Commit: Lawyers Spot Red Flags in Online Harms Bill

The Liberal government’s newly tabled Online Harms Bill will, if passed, allow people to report others to a provincial court judge out of fear that they may commit a hate crime in the future. As well, investigators will be allowed to enter people’s workplace without a warrant and demand access to records, and in some cases, people can file anonymous complaints alleging “hate speech.”  These are just some of the many red flags lawyers have identified in Bill C-63 since it was tabled before the House of Commons on Feb. 26. Under the bill, if a judge is satisfied that an “informant has reasonable grounds” to fear that a future hate crime may be committed by a defendant, the defendant must abide by certain restrictions for a year....