http://montrealgazette.com/news/quebec/quebec-liberals-agree-to-amend-bill-on-hate-speech
Source: The Gazette / Presse Canadienne, May 25, 2016
Original title: Quebec Liberals agree to amend bill on hate speech / WebArchive – Archive.Today
[EXCERPTS] The Quebec government will table an amendment to eliminate [‘hate speech’] clauses in Bill 59.Justice Minister Stéphanie Vallée said the measure would be taken because the clauses in the bill are impeding the adoption process through the National Assembly.
[…] Parti Québécois MNA Agnès Maltais said the retraction would allow the government to move on and focus on the section of the bill pertaining to forced marriages.Last week, Maltais had asked Bill 59 be pulled out of fear it would gag the opinions of certain groups, critics or commentators.
In Quebec on Wednesday, Maltais said several editorialists had supported the PQ’s stance on the bill.
“We are doing it because we believe that freedom of speech is fundamental in a healthy democracy and because this bill was received mostly unfavourably by the majority of groups, analysts, jurists and political commentators,” she said.
At a briefing, Vallée confirmed the government had noticed the lukewarm welcome.
“This is far from the end,” she said. “I think we all read the news and know that despite our good will and efforts there is no appetite to control hate speech in Quebec.”
Vallée noted that several jurisdictions around the world had passed laws to put restraints on hate speech.
According to the minister, the opposition party’s obstruction during Bill 59’s in-depth study contributed to her decision to pull the clause.
Further reading
Point de Bascule: FILE Quebec Human Rights Commission / Many articles by Point de Bascule on various aspects of Bill 59
Point de Bascule: FILE Quebec Human Rights Commission / References on Bill 59
