Public Incitement of Hatred (Sentencing Cases)

This page was last substantively updated or reviewed January 2017. (Rev. # 92891)

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Offence Wording

Advocating genocide

318 (1) Every person who advocates or promotes genocide is guilty of an indictable offence and liable to imprisonment for a term of not more than five years.
[omitted (2)]

Consent

(3) No proceeding for an offence under this section shall be instituted without the consent of the Attorney General.
[omitted (4)]
R.S., 1985, c. C-46, s. 318; 2004, c. 14, s. 1; 2014, c. 31, s. 12; 2017, c. 13, s. 3; 2019, c. 25, s. 120.

– CCC (CanLII), (DOJ)

Note up: 318 (1) and (3)

Defined terms: "genocide" (s. 318(2)) and "Attorney General" (s. 2)

Public incitement of hatred

319 (1) Every one who, by communicating statements in any public place, incites hatred against any identifiable group where such incitement is likely to lead to a breach of the peace is guilty of

(a) an indictable offence and is liable to imprisonment for a term not exceeding two years; or

(b) an offence punishable on summary conviction.

[omitted (2), (2.1), (3), (3.1), (4), (5), (6) and (7)]
R.S., 1985, c. C-46, s. 319; R.S., 1985, c. 27 (1st Supp.), s. 203; 2004, c. 14, s. 2; 2022, c. 10, s. 332.

– CCC (CanLII), (DOJ)

Note up: 319 (2)

Defined terms: "communicating" (s. 319(7)) and "public place" (s. 319(7))

319
[omitted (1)]

Wilful promotion of hatred

(2) Every one who, by communicating statements, other than in private conversation, wilfully promotes hatred against any identifiable group is guilty of

(a) an indictable offence and is liable to imprisonment for a term not exceeding two years; or

(b) an offence punishable on summary conviction.

[omitted (2.1), (3), (3.1), (4), (5), (6) and (7)]
R.S., 1985, c. C-46, s. 319; R.S., 1985, c. 27 (1st Supp.), s. 203; 2004, c. 14, s. 2; 2022, c. 10, s. 332.
[annotation(s) added]

– CCC (CanLII), (DOJ)

Note up: 319 (2)

Defined terms: "communicating" (s. 319(7)) and "identifiable group" (s. 319(7))

319
[omitted (1) and (2)]

Wilful promotion of antisemitism

(2.1) Everyone who, by communicating statements, other than in private conversation, wilfully promotes antisemitism by condoning, denying or downplaying the Holocaust

(a) is guilty of an indictable offence and liable to imprisonment for a term not exceeding two years; or

(b) is guilty of an offence punishable on summary conviction.

[omitted (3), (3.1), (4), (5), (6) and (7)]
R.S., 1985, c. C-46, s. 319; R.S., 1985, c. 27 (1st Supp.), s. 203; 2004, c. 14, s. 2; 2022, c. 10, s. 332.
[annotation(s) added]

– CCC (CanLII), (DOJ)

Note up: 319 (2.1)

Defined terms: "communicating" (s. 319(7))

Case Digests

Case Name	Prv.	Crt.	Sentence	Summary
R v Mackenzie, 2016 ABPC 173 (CanLII), per Fradsham J	AB	PC		Find summaries of case. Keywords: None
R v Castonguay, 2013 QCCQ 4285 (CanLII), (2013) 3 CR (7th) 82 (QCCQ), per DeCoste J	QC	PC	11 months imprisonment	Find summaries of case. Keywords: None
R v Mahr, 2010 ONCJ 216 (CanLII), per Douglas J	ON	PC	6 months imprisonment	Find summaries of case. Keywords: None
R v Noble, 2008 BCSC 216 (CanLII), per Parrett J	BC	SC	6 months imprisonment	Find summaries of case. Keywords: None
R v Presseault, 2007 QCCQ 384 (CanLII), per Vauclair J	QC	PC	6 months imprisonment	Find summaries of case. Keywords: None
R v Nicholson, 2002 Carswell BC 3592, 57 WCB (2d) 234(*no CanLII links)	BC		1 year CSO	Keywords: None
R v Harding, 2001 CanLII 28036 (ONSC), , 40 CR (5th) 119 (Ont.SCJ), per Dambrot J	ON	SC	3 months imprisonment	Find summaries of case. Keywords: None
R v Lelas, 1990 CanLII 6836 (ON CA), 58 CCC (3d) 568, per Houlden JA (2:1)	ON	CA	1 year imprisonment	Find summaries of case. Keywords: None
R v Andrews and Smith, 1988 CanLII 200 (ON CA), , 65 OR (2d) 161 (CA), per Grange JA	ON	CA	3 months imprisonment and 1 months imprisonment	Find summaries of case. Keywords: None