The Criminal Code of Canada does not define hatred but the Supreme Court of Canada has described it as: “connoting emotions of an intense and extreme nature that is clearly associated with vilification and detestation. Only the most intense forms of dislike fall within the ambit of this offence. In determining whether the communication expressed hatred the court must look at the understanding of a reasonable person in context. The analysis must focus on the speech’s audience and on its social and historical context. The speech is to be considered objectively having regard to the circumstances in which the speech was given, the manner and tone used and the persons to whom the message was addressed. In considering the mental element, one offence requires something less than the intentional promotion of hatred while another offence requires the person to have had, as a conscious purpose, the promotion of hatred against the identifiable group or foresight that the promotion of hatred against that group was certain to result and nevertheless communicated the statements.” CONFUSED YET? An identifiable group “means any section of the public distinguished by colour, race, religion, ethnic origin or sexual orientation.” BE CAREFUL HOW YOU EXPRESS YOUR OPINIONS ON SOCIAL MEDIA.