The government has made public that it has taken steps to protect Canadians from hate speech and hate crimes online and offline.

“Canadians expect to be safe and free from hate speech and hate crimes, online and offline. The Government of Canada is committed to keeping all Canadians safe, while also protecting their rights and freedoms,” reads the Department of Justice’s message.

David Lametti, Canada’s Minister of Justice and Attorney General, along with Steven Guilbeault, Canada’s Minister of Heritage, and Bill Blair, the Minister of Public Security, announced that they had introduced amendments to the Criminal Code, the Canadian Human Rights Act, and the Youth Criminal Justice Act.

The amendments to Canadian law had been worked at for many months, and their announcement came just weeks after the attack that killed four members of a Muslim family.

The 20-year-old faces murder and terrorism charges after he rammed a Muslim family with his truck in southwest Ontario on June 6. According to the police, the crime was inspired by hate.

“Canadians expect their government to take action against hate speech and hate crimes. These legislative changes would improve the remedies available to victims of hate speech and hate crimes and would hold individuals accountable. The actions we are taking today will help protect the vulnerable, empower those who are victimized and hold individuals to account for the hatred they spread online,” said David Lametti, Canada’s Minister of Justice and Attorney General.

The proposed changes will facilitate the filing of complaints against people who publish online – including on social media, on private websites, in blog posts – and with website operators.

A person can be fined up to $ 20,000 if found guilty of hate speech directed at a specific victim.

For the time being, however, the changes will not apply to social media platforms. The government will want to consult the public on proposed changes that would find these operators even more guilty. These changes would include rules on how social media platforms deliver harmful material such as hate speech, terrorist content and content that incites violence. The consultation process is to take place in the summer months.

The chances of a quick adoption of the amendments are low as Wednesday was the last day of the current parliamentary session and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is prepared to start the elections in a few months.

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