Did Canada criminalize quoting the Bible? Posts misrepresent bill

CLAIM: In late March 2026, Canada criminalized the public reading or quoting of the Bible.
 

RATING: FALSE. Canada did not criminalize publicly reading or quoting the Bible. Social media posts misrepresented Bill C-9, which would remove a narrow legal defense in some hate-propaganda cases but would not ban Scripture itself. As of March 30, 2026, the bill had not become law.

Bill C-9 does not ban public Bible reading or Bible quotes. It would remove an existing Criminal Code defense tied to religious subjects or religious texts in some hate-propaganda offenses, while also defining "hatred" narrowly and clarifying that religious statements made in discussion, publication or debate are not prohibited unless they willfully promote hatred against an identifiable group. As of March 30, 2026, Bill C-9 had not become law. It had passed the House of Commons and moved to the Senate.