No, Canada did not criminalize COVID-19 restrictions

A Facebook post claims Canada passed new legislation against COVID-19 public health orders. 

"Canada has just criminalized all CV19 measures requiring masks, distancing, quarantining & vaccines — meaning they cannot force/fine you to wear a mask etc," the text on the photo post reads. "Any attempt to impose such measures is now considered a CRIME."

That’s not true. The caption of the post mentions a "law" passed by "a council of citizens’ assemblies" on Sept. 8. The actions of this group do not have legitimate standing in Canada.

The post was flagged as part of Facebook’s efforts to combat false news and misinformation on its News Feed. (Read more about our partnership with Facebook.)

Claims about this new "law" have been publicized by a group called the Republic of Kanata, which describes itself as "a new society growing up within the shell of the old. Citizens are united within a new jurisdiction in local Republican Assemblies that replace the existing Canadian government structures."

Republic of Kanata says its law "struck down and criminalized" all COVID-19 measures, such as those requiring masks, social distancing or quarantining. The law also encourages people to "actively resist" coronavirus regulations.

According to a Republic of Kanata press release, "The law was issued by the National Council of Common Law Assemblies (NCCLA), which unites more than forty such Assemblies across Canada within the jurisdiction of the Republic of Kanata."

Although a group of people want this to be law, it is not.

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The group has no legal authority in Canada. A spokesperson for the Canadian House of Commons confirmed that no such law has been passed to criminalize public health measures for COVID-19

The post also incorrectly claims that Canadian cities and provinces can no longer implement COVID-19 safety requirements or impose fines for violating those measures.

In several places in Canada, there are fines and other penalties for violating the public health orders designed to slow the spread of COVID-19. 

In Canada’s Alberta province, fines for violating orders for self-isolation begin at $1,000. Canada’s capital city of Ottawa has required masks in enclosed public spaces since July, and police officers can impose $200 fines.

On Sept. 10 — two days after the Facebook post’s supposed-law criminalized the COVID-19 measures — officials in Quebec announced the police would begin handing out fines to people who aren’t wearing masks in accordance with public health regulations.

An image on Facebook says, "Canada has just criminalized all CV19 measures requiring masks, distancing, quarantining & vaccines — meaning they cannot force/fine you to wear a mask etc. Any attempt to impose such measures is now considered a CRIME."

The caption of the post refers to a "law" passed by a "a council of citizens’ assemblies" that is not real, enforceable law in Canada. People can also be fined for violating the public health orders designed to slow the spread of COVID-19 in many places in Canada.

We rate this claim False.