Liberal Leader Mark Carney has announced his intention to address harmful online

Liberal Leader Mark Carney has announced his intention to address harmful online content, a goal aligned with the previously proposed legislation by the Trudeau government. Bill C-63, aimed at combating online harms, became obsolete after Parliament was prorogued in January.

At a rally in Hamilton on April 10, Carney responded to a heckler's accusations by stating, "We are facing many serious issues," and highlighted the prevalence of misogyny, anti-Semitism, hatred, conspiracy theories, and other forms of online toxicity that cross into Canada from the United States.

He emphasized his government's commitment to tackling these issues. "I can manage the conspiracy theories, but the more serious concern is how they influence societal behavior. When Canadians feel threatened at community centers, places of worship, or schools, that's unacceptable," Carney said, as reported by Blacklock's Reporter. "If elected, my government will take action." Earlier in a press conference in Brampton, Carney pointed out that new online platforms pose "new threats," especially to children. "While it's primarily a parent's duty to protect children, it's also a shared responsibility. With Canadians' support, my government will implement measures to safeguard children online," he said. The Prime Minister highlighted that major American websites have become "seas of racism, misogyny, anti-Semitism, Islamophobia, and all forms of hate," noting that criminals exploit these platforms to endanger Canadian children.
A press statement from the Liberal Party indicated plans to introduce legislation aimed at protecting children from crimes like online extortion, increase funding for the Canadian Centre for Child Protection, and equip law enforcement and prosecutors with the necessary tools to combat these crimes and hold perpetrators accountable. The Liberal government initially proposed Bill C-63, the Online Harms Act, in February 2024, which aimed to amend the Canadian Criminal Code and the Canadian Human Rights Act to regulate internet content related to sexual exploitation, bullying, deepfakes, and "hateful conduct." The legislation also intended to establish a Digital Safety Commission and other bodies to oversee compliance with new regulations. Violators posting "hate speech" could face fines of up to $50,000, while more severe offenses, such as "advocating for genocide," could result in life imprisonment.

The Conservative Party opposed the bill, arguing that it could infringe on Canadians' freedom of expression and create a "vague regulatory framework" susceptible to manipulation by tech lobbyists. They cautioned that the proposed offense motivated by hatred could lead to life sentences for minor infractions.

The bill also aimed to reinstate Section 13 of the Canadian Human Rights Act, which had been repealed due to concerns that it was overly broad and could facilitate government censorship without criminal trials. The Bloc Québécois suggested dividing the legislation into two parts: one addressing child exploitation and the other amending the Canadian Human Rights Act and Criminal Code. The Liberal government agreed to this request in December and decided to split the legislation accordingly. After former Prime Minister Justin Trudeau prorogued Parliament on January 6, all pending legislation, including Bill C-63, was rendered void and will need to be reintroduced in the next session. The bill had not yet passed its second reading.