Over the past several years, Canada has witnessed a disturbing increase in the visibility of white supremacist, white nationalist, and neo-Nazi activity, along with the rapid spread of online hate and extremist propaganda.

What was once more hidden is becoming increasingly public. Extremist groups are openly organizing demonstrations, distributing hateful propaganda, creating spaces to recruit and radicalize individuals, and using social media platforms to spread ideologies rooted in racism, and other forms of hate.

The growing presence of organized extremist movements, combined with the speed at which hateful content spreads online, demonstrates that Canada’s current approach must be reviewed and strengthened to meet the realities of today’s digital world.

Hate that begins online does not always remain online.

The normalization of racist rhetoric, the dehumanization of targeted communities, and the spread of extremist propaganda can contribute to intimidation, harassment, radicalization, and real-world acts of violence.

As someone dedicated to advocating for equity and speaking out against racial injustice, I have witnessed countless examples of online spaces being used to celebrate violence, promote white supremacist beliefs, and target Black, Indigenous, Muslim, Asian, and other racialized communities. These are not isolated incidents. They represent a growing challenge that requires a coordinated national response.

Canada already has laws addressing certain forms of hate propaganda, including publicly inciting hatred, wilfully promoting hatred against identifiable groups, and advocating genocide. However, many of these laws were developed before social media transformed how extremist movements organize, recruit, and spread propaganda.

Today, a single post can reach thousands or even millions of people within moments. Online platforms can be used to coordinate harassment, promote extremist movements, encourage violence, and intimidate communities.

Freedom of expression is a fundamental Canadian value protected by the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. However, freedom of expression must be balanced with protecting Canadians from organized campaigns that deliberately promote hatred, incite violence, threaten safety, or encourage people to target others because of race, ethnicity, religion, gender identity, or other protected characteristics.

We call on the Government of Canada to:

• Review and modernize Canada’s hate propaganda laws to address the realities of organized hate and extremist activity in the digital age.
• Strengthen legal tools available to investigate and prosecute individuals and organizations that deliberately incite hatred, promote violence, or encourage harm against protected communities.
• Examine whether existing laws adequately address organized extremist demonstrations, gatherings, and activities that are designed to intimidate communities, promote hatred, or facilitate violence.
• Establish stronger measures to address repeat offenders and organized groups that use online platforms to spread extremist propaganda, recruit supporters, or coordinate hate-based activity.
• Work with provinces, law enforcement agencies, legal experts, technology companies, and communities impacted by hate to develop a national strategy addressing online radicalization and extremist recruitment while respecting the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms.

This petition is not about silencing disagreement, criticism, or lawful expression.

It is about ensuring Canada’s laws keep pace with a rapidly changing environment where organized hate can spread instantly, where extremist movements are becoming more visible, and where targeted communities increasingly experience fear, harassment, and intimidation.

Hate is not simply an opinion when it is used to dehumanize people, encourage violence, or create an environment where individuals are targeted because of who they are.

Every person in Canada deserves to live free from fear because of their race, religion, ethnicity, gender identity, or background.

We urge the Government of Canada to modernize its approach to hate laws, strengthen protections for communities targeted by extremist movements, address organized online hate, and provide effective tools to investigate and prosecute those who cross the line from expression into intimidation, incitement, and violence.

If you believe Canada must take meaningful action against white supremacist extremism, organized hate, and the spread of dangerous propaganda online and offline, please sign this petition and call on our leaders to act.

Together, we can build a safer, more inclusive Canada where everyone has the right to live with dignity and without fear.