On November 14, 2025, ICLMG submitted a brief on the problematic Bill C-9, the “Combatting Hate” Act, to the Standing Committee on Justice and Human Rights. Read excerpts below and please take action to stop C-9:

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We believe strongly that Canada must do more as a society to address polarization, marginalization and hate, and that there is a role for both government and the public to play in doing so.

Despite this, the ICLMG is alarmed by the approach of Bill C-9, the Combatting Hate Act, to addressing concerns about rising incidents of hate. The government’s approach of adopting new Criminal Code offenses, expanding existing offenses and removing legal safeguards will undermine protections guaranteed under the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, particularly freedom of expression, freedom of association and freedom of peaceful assembly.

These concerns are reflected in a joint letter the ICLMG signed alongside 36 other civil society organizations from across various sectors, including the Canadian Civil Liberties Association, the Black Legal Action Centre, the Canadian Labour Congress, the Canadian Muslim Lawyers’ Association, the Jewish Faculty Network, the Canadian Muslim Public Affairs Council and the Ligue des droits et libertés, raising substantial concerns with Bill C-9 and calling for it to be withdrawn.

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ICLMG submitted a short brief on the problematic Bill C-12, the Strengthening Canada’s Immigration System and Borders Act, to the Standing Committee on Citizenship and Immigration. Read the full brief below and please take action to stop C-12:

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ICLMG has observed with deep concern the growing securitization of the Canadian border based on the framing of migrants and refugees as a national security threat even when evidence does not support such claims, as well as pressure from the United States for Canada to further align and integrate its border security with their own, to the detriment of civil liberties protections in Canada.

In June 2025, the ICLMG joined more than 300 other civil society organizations in speaking out over the dangers of Bill C-2, the Strong Borders Act, including the severe harms to fundamental rights if many of the provisions in Bill C-2 were adopted. The introduction of Bill C-12 failed to alleviate these concerns, particularly by replicating changes to Canada’s immigration and refugee regime included in Bill C-2.

We continue to join others in calling for both C-2 and C-12 to be withdrawn in favor of consultations and, if warranted, the introduction of targeted legislation that upholds and protects fundamental rights.

Below we outline specific areas of concern with Bill C-12. Continue reading →