A newly reported milestone in Canada’s legislative process is centered on Bill C-9, which has cleared the Senate but only after receiving an amendment that changes what the bill targets.
According to the report, the Senate voted on Bill C-9 with a recorded outcome of 45 votes in favor (YEA), 13 votes against (NAY), and 2 abstentions (ABSTAIN). The tally also notes that 35 members were absent for the vote, highlighting that the result came from a partial attendance rather than a fully represented chamber.
The key development is not only that the bill passed, but that it passed with an amendment. The amendment specifically adds the “noose” to a list of criminalized hate symbols. In practical terms, this means the legislation expands the set of expressions or symbols that could fall under the bill’s prohibitions and enforcement framework once the proposal continues through the legislative steps ahead.
As a result of the amendment, the bill does not proceed directly as it might have if it had passed exactly as originally drafted in the lower house. Instead, the report explains that because of the changes introduced by the Senate, the bill will be sent back to the House of Commons for further review and consideration.
This step is important in parliamentary procedure: when one chamber amends a bill, the other chamber typically must reconsider the altered text to determine whether it accepts the changes, revises them further, or rejects them. The report therefore frames the Senate’s action as a pivot point—Bill C-9 has moved forward, but the final shape of the legislation remains subject to negotiation and approval by members of the House of Commons.
While the provided excerpt does not include detailed background on the broader purpose of Bill C-9, the amendment’s focus clarifies the direction of the change. By specifically criminalizing hate symbols and by including the noose in that list, the Senate’s amendment signals an intent to address harmful symbolic conduct associated with hate. The report’s wording indicates that the symbol’s inclusion is the decisive reason for the bill’s return to the House of Commons.
The vote count and procedural context together suggest a measure of support in the Senate, given the margin between YEA and NAY votes. With 45 in favor compared with 13 opposed, the bill’s passage reflects a substantial majority. At the same time, the presence of 2 abstentions and the mention of 35 absentees emphasize that the outcome was not unanimous and that not all senators participated in the decision.
In summary, the report captures a breaking development: Bill C-9 has been approved by the Senate, but it has been altered through a Senate amendment that adds the noose to a list of criminalized hate symbols. Because the bill’s wording was changed, it will now be sent back to the House of Commons, where lawmakers will review the amendment and decide how the legislation should proceed to its next stage.
Source: Andrew Lawton
Andrew Lawton: BREAKING: Liberal Bill C-9 has passed the Senate with an amendment. The vote was: YEA: 45 NAY: 13 ABSTAIN: 2 35 were absent for the vote. Because of the amendment (adding the noose to the list of criminalized hate symbols), Bill C-9 will be sent back to House of Commons.. #breaking
— @AndrewLawton May 1, 2026
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