C-229Banning Symbols of Hate Act
An Act to amend the Criminal Code (banning symbols of hate)
Private member's bill, introduced in the House of Commons on February 3, 2022
- Status
- At second reading in the House of Commons since February 3, 2022
What it does
Adds a Criminal Code offence for publicly displaying, selling, or offering symbols that promote or incite hatred or violence against an identifiable group.
What it does
- Creates a new offence for wilfully or recklessly promoting hatred or violence by publicly displaying, selling, or offering symbols, emblems, flags, or uniforms linked to people or groups that promote hatred or violence.
- Sets the penalty for that offence as either an indictable offence with up to two years in prison, or a summary conviction offence.
- Keeps a defence for good faith displays tied to a matter of public interest, including education or accurate film depiction, if the person reasonably believes the display is proper and for the public benefit.
- Keeps a defence for good faith display of such symbols for the purpose of removing them from public places because they produce or tend to produce hatred or violence.
- Allows forfeiture of items used in the offence and requires the Attorney General's consent before proceedings for the new offence can begin.
Who it affects
- People who display hate symbols
- People who sell hate symbols
- Educators
- Filmmakers
- People removing symbols from public places
- Prosecutors and Attorneys General
- Identifiable groups targeted by hate
Background
Section 319 of the Criminal Code already deals with hate propaganda. This bill adds a new offence aimed at certain visual symbols linked to hatred or violence.
Where it is
House of Commons
First reading
Completed.
Second reading
Current stage. Now here
Committee
Not reached.
Report stage
Not reached.
Third reading
Not reached.
Senate
First reading
Not reached.
Second reading
Not reached.
Committee
Not reached.
Third reading
Not reached.
Royal assent
Royal assent
Not reached.
Introduced by an MP who is not a minister. These bills compete in a lottery for debate time, and most do not become law. How a bill becomes law
How the House voted
No recorded votes yet
Read the source
LEGISinfo status: Outside the Order of Precedence. Bill data from LEGISinfo, votes from openparliament.ca and the House of Commons. Last updated October 13, 2026.