04/07/2026
Hello Mosaic,
Did you know that on March 25, 2026, the House of Commons passed Bill C-9, and it now moves to the Senate? We want to make sure you understand what's at stake and how you can respond as a citizen and as a follower of Jesus.
What is Bill C-9?
Bill C-9 is a federal bill that amends Canada's hate speech laws. While some positive changes were made, one critical concern remains unresolved.
The bill removes the good-faith religious expression defence from the Criminal Code. This defence has historically protected pastors, Sunday school teachers, and ordinary Christians who share what the Bible teaches — not out of hatred, but out of genuine faith. Without it, there is no written guarantee in law that sincere religious expression is protected. We would simply have to trust the goodwill of whoever holds power at the time.
The bill now goes to the Senate, where it can still be amended before becoming law.
What can you do?
I want to encourage you to write a short, respectful letter to a Canadian senator asking them to restore the good-faith religious expression defence. You don't need to be a lawyer or a political expert to speak from your heart as a Christian and as a Canadian.
Thanks to Elder Bob, he has provided a template letter to help you get started.
You can also find the contact information for Canadian senators at https://sencanada.ca/en/senators
For the full background on this issue, we encourage you to read this article from the Canadian Centre for Christian Charities: https://www.cccc.org/news_blogs/legal/2026/03/27/bill-c-9-passes-third-reading-with-key-changes/
The Senate is the last stop before this bill becomes law, so let your voice be heard now!
Here is the letter template:
Dear Senator _____,
I am writing to you as a Christian Canadian and I do so with a deep sense of urgency and respect for the role you hold in protecting the rights of all Canadians.
Bill C-9, which passed the House of Commons on March 25, 2026, contains a provision that removes the good-faith religious expression defence from Section 319(3)(b) of the Criminal Code. I am asking you, respectfully and sincerely, to amend this bill to restore that protection before it becomes law.
I want to be clear about what I believe — and what I do not believe.
I do not believe that hatred toward any person is acceptable. The faith I hold teaches me to love my neighbour, to show compassion to all people regardless of how they live, and to treat every human being as someone made in the image of God. I have no desire to harm, demean, or incite hostility toward anyone.
What I do believe — and what my faith requires of me — is that I speak the truth of Scripture honestly, openly, and lovingly. When a pastor reads from 1 Corinthians 6:9 to his congregation, he is not calling for harm against anyone. He is fulfilling his pastoral duty to share what the Bible teaches, while leaving every person free to decide how they live. That is not hatred. That is faith.
The defence that Bill C-9 removes was placed in our law precisely to protect this kind of sincere, good-faith religious expression. Without it, Canadians of faith are no longer protected by a written guarantee in our law. Instead, we are left to rely on the goodwill of whoever happens to be in power — today, tomorrow, or ten years from now. That is not the rule of law. That is the rule of discretion, and it is a fragile thing.
I also ask you to consider this: if this law is to apply consistently and fairly to all religious texts, then passages in other religious traditions that explicitly call for violence against those of different faiths would face far greater scrutiny than a Scripture verse describing spiritual consequences. Unequal application of this law would be a Charter violation. Consistent application raises questions no one in Parliament appears willing to answer.
The ask is simple and narrow: restore the good-faith religious expression defence. Do not gut hate speech law — keep it. Simply put back the protection that ensures a pastor, a Sunday school teacher, or an ordinary Canadian reading Scripture aloud is never made into a criminal for doing so in good faith.
Canada is a country built on the Charter guarantee of freedom of conscience and religion. I am asking you to be its guardian at this critical moment.
Thank you for your time, your service, and your consideration of this matter.
Respectfully,
Bill C-9 is sent to the Senate after third reading in the House of Commons. Learn about key changes, ongoing concerns, and what this means for religious organizations and the freedom of expression in Canada.
