Liberals agree to hit pause on hate crimes bill and prioritize tougher bail bill

OTTAWA — The Liberal government has agreed to prioritize the passage of its bail legislation by hitting pause on getting its hate crime bill through the legislative process.

The justice committee passed a motion Monday to stop the clause-by-clause study on the hate crime bill, C-9, in order to focus on the bail bill, C-14.

It’s a move the Conservative Party has been pushing for, following an agreement between the Liberals and Bloc Québécois to amend Bill C-9.

That amendment would remove a religious exemption on hate speech from the Criminal Code.