Conservative MP Ted Falk never thought he would see the day the public would not be consulted by Parliament and bypassed by government.

It has happened.

The vice-chair of Bill C-16’s standing committee confirmed there will be no public hearings.

“The committee decided to move directly into clause-by-clause study of Bill C-16,” said the Manitoba politician.

Critics fear Canadians could be sentenced to jail for violating the Liberal government’s soon-to-be new law protecting gender identity “against hate propaganda.” Turns out you can’t utter criticism before the bill is passed, either.

Sponsored by Justice Minister Jody Wilson-Raybould, Bill C-16 “amends the Criminal Code to extend the protection against hate propaganda set out in that Act to any section of the public that is distinguished by gender identity or expression and to clearly set out that evidence that an offence was motivated by bias, prejudice or hate based on gender identity or expression constitutes an aggravating circumstance that a court must take into consideration when it imposes a sentence.”

But who gets to decide what is discrimination? Propaganda? Prejudice? Hate?

Could a critical newspaper column land a writer in jail? Could a restaurant owner be jailed for not being able to accommodate bathroom rights of a transgender person? Will the law target a hockey coach on a women’s team who expresses concern over accepting a male player who identifies as a female?

“There’s concern that men could have the power of the law to be in women’s places,” said Charles McVety, of Canada Christian College. “A man with an inner feeling of being female must be admitted to all women’s showers, change rooms and bathrooms. Potential predators can easily use this ‘right’ to make women vulnerable. It would be discriminatory hate to stop them, punishable by two years in prison, according to the new law.”

No wonder the government does not want to hear the public?

“I am disappointed with this decision as all bills referred to the committee ought to be given due consideration and thorough study,” said Falk.

Basic democracy has been sidestepped.

“I think it speaks for itself,” said University of Toronto Professor Jordan Peterson. “They don’t give a damn about public consultation. You must be go along or you will be silenced.”

Peterson said freedom and democracy should never force the use of government-approved words.

“People need to wake up!” he said.

Wake up before jail terms are handed out?

There needs to be a distinction between what’s constructive criticism and what’s prosecutable hate?

Suggestions that critics are marginalizing transgender people is as absurd as thwarting pubic consultation. There’s a difference between common sense accommodation and having the state deciding it will put people away for not heeding every clause in a bill.

“I’m against discrimination as well,” says Falk, who added “our existing laws are inclusive. The Canadian Human Rights Act and the Criminal Code provide broad descriptions that ensure equal protection for all Canadians.”

In other words there is no need for Bill C-16. There is need for public consultation.