Canada Enacts New Combatting Hate Act

Canada’s Combatting Hate Act will bring new Criminal Code provisions into force on July 18, 2026, adding offences focused on intimidation, obstruction, and the public display of hate symbols. The legislation, formerly Bill C‑9, received Royal Assent on June 18, 2026.The Act creates two hybrid offences for intimidating or obstructing people accessing places primarily used by identifiable groups. These locations include places of worship, schools, cultural centres, community facilitie