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CoHNA welcomes Canada's new anti-hate law after months of engagement
The coalition says that the law includes protections sought by Hindu Canadians amid concerns about rising religiously motivated intimidation and hate incidents.
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Ankita Baidya - Sat, 20, Jun 2026
- 05:32 EDT
- 43
Members of CoHNA Canada chapter welcomed the passage of Canada's Combatting Hate Act. / Senate of Canada
Canada's Combatting Hate Act has officially become law after receiving Royal Assent on June 18, prompting a positive response from Hindu advocacy organizations that had engaged with lawmakers during the legislative process.
Her Excellency the @GGCanada has granted Royal Assent to Bill #C9, which will take effect once the @HoCChamber has been advised: https://t.co/E7ebQCQ2Aw#SenCA #CdnPoli pic.twitter.com/NZsLSQnhqj
— Senate of Canada (@SenateCA) June 19, 2026
The legislation, known as Bill C-9, was approved by Canada's Parliament after months of debate and consultation. The law is expected to come into force 30 days after receiving Royal Assent.
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The Coalition of Hindus of North America (CoHNA) Canada chapter welcomed the development, describing it as "a win for grassroots advocacy" and an example of how diverse communities can participate in shaping legislation aimed at addressing hate and discrimination.
In a statement posted on X, the organization said Hindu Canadians have faced a rise in religious hate and bigotry in recent years and expressed support for provisions designed to improve protections for faith communities while safeguarding religious freedom.
CoHNA highlighted measures that create additional protections around places of worship and community spaces, as well as provisions addressing the display and promotion of hate symbols. The organization said these measures could help address incidents of intimidation and harassment reported by members of the Hindu community.
The group also pointed to what it described as a significant change in the legislation's wording regarding Nazi symbols. During consultations, CoHNA advocated for the use of the term "Nazi Hakenkreuz" rather than "swastika," arguing that the swastika is a sacred symbol in Hindu, Jain and Buddhist traditions and should not be conflated with the emblem adopted by Nazi Germany.
Parliamentary records show the legislation specifically refers to the "Nazi Hakenkreuz" and the "Nazi double Sig-Rune," commonly known as SS bolts, among the prohibited hate symbols.
CoHNA welcomes the passage of Bill C-9, the Combatting Hate Act as it becomes the law. This is a win for grassroots advocacy and an illustration of how a respectful and inclusive process can work to tackle hate with nuance and sensitivity to the many diverse communities that call… https://t.co/021GPTbaNx
— CoHNA Canada (@CoHNACanada) June 19, 2026
The bill has not been without controversy. According to Catholic media coverage of the legislation, it has also drawn criticism from Catholic and other faith leaders over a separate provision repealing a decades-old legal defence that shielded good-faith religious expression from hate speech prosecution.
As per the Catholic Register, the passage of the bill came amid ongoing discussions in Canada about religious freedom, hate crimes and the protection of minority communities, including Hindus, Sikhs, Jews, Muslims and other faith groups.
CoHNA Canada called on authorities to apply the law's protections "consistently and meaningfully," particularly for communities it said have too often seen intimidation go unaddressed, adding that it looks forward to partnering with officials on implementation.
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