A national civil liberties organization is warning that new federal legislation aimed at combating hate could undermine fundamental freedoms if it proceeds without significant changes.

The concern centres on Bill C-9, legislation sold to address hate-motivated conduct in Canada. Civil liberties advocates say the bill would create new criminal offences related to speech and protest, raising concerns about how broadly those provisions could be applied.

The Canadian Civil Liberties Association says the legislation is being rushed through Parliament and risks expanding hate-related prosecutions in ways that could affect lawful expression. Critics warn provisions tied to demonstrations near buildings used by identifiable groups could potentially capture peaceful protests occurring near thousands of locations across Canada.

Advocates also argue the bill could broaden the legal definition of hate-motivated conduct in ways that risk criminalizing speech that is offensive — including online content such as memes — but not intended to incite violence. Some critics say removing certain safeguards in prosecuting hate-propaganda offences could also lower the threshold for laying charges.

Civil liberties groups say the debate around Bill C-9 should be viewed alongside other federal legislation they argue expands state power in areas ranging from surveillance and online regulation to firearms ownership.

One example is Bill C‑2, which expands surveillance powers by allowing authorities to demand subscriber and communication data from service providers and requiring companies to maintain systems capable of providing lawful access to user information. Privacy experts say the provisions could allow police and intelligence agencies to obtain details about Canadians’ online activity under relatively low thresholds.

Another measure drawing criticism is Bill C‑8, cybersecurity legislation allowing the federal government to issue binding orders to telecommunications companies in the name of national security. Analysts say it would give Ottawa authority to direct how telecom networks operate and require companies to follow government cybersecurity directives.

Gun owners have also raised concerns about Bill C‑21, which introduced a national freeze on the sale, purchase and transfer of handguns and expanded definitions of prohibited firearms. Critics argue the measures effectively amount to confiscation of certain firearms and impose new restrictions on lawful owners.

Other legislation, including Bill C‑6, has also drawn criticism from opponents who argue it expands federal authority over foreign spending and international commitments while reducing parliamentary oversight.

Civil liberties advocates say taken together the bills represent a pattern of expanding government authority over speech, privacy, property and digital communications. They argue each law may appear limited on its own but collectively raises broader concerns about the balance between security, regulation and individual freedoms.