Parti Qubcois attacks hate speech bill

The Opposition Parti Qubcois is demanding the Liberal government throw out part of its plan to fight religious extremism and hate speech.

PQ secularism critic Agns Maltais believes Bill 59 is an attack on civil liberties.

"This isn't fighting against radicalisation. This is a fight against freedom of expression," she said as she walked into the final day of her party's two-day caucus retreat in Rimouski.

The proposed law, which was introduced in the spring by Justice Minister Stephanie Valle, would give the Quebec Human Rights Commission more powers to investigate alleged cases of hate speech.

Maltais says she has spoken to Jewish, black and LGBT groups, communities she says are the targets of hate speech. She says they told her they believe the bill goes too far.

As for alternatives or amendments, she didn't propose any, saying it is up to the government to put something new on the table to fight radicalisation.

She also would not say what her party is prepared to do to block the bill's passage.

However, the Quebec City MNA says her party does support the section that aims to prevent forced marriages. That part of the law would require a judge to grant permission for someone 16 or 17 years old to get married.

On her way into a cabinet meeting in Quebec City, the justice minister said she would not remove the hate speech provisions of her bill, for the moment.

A spokesperson for Valle saysMaltais "should have accepted a technical briefing instead of complaining."