Section 13 of the Canadian Human Rights Act was a provision that prohibited the communication of hate messages by telephone or internet, a 'discriminatory practice.' Enacted in 1977, it was initially designed to target telephone-based hate speech, specifically messages 'likely to expose a person or persons to hatred or contempt' based on prohibited grounds of discrimination such as race, religion, or sexual orientation. The section was expanded in 2001 to explicitly include internet communications. It allowed individuals to file complaints with the Canadian Human Rights Commission, which could investigate and, if warranted, refer the case to the Canadian Human Rights Tribunal. The Tribunal could issue cease-and-desist orders and impose fines up to $10,000 or order compensation up to $20,000 for victims. Throughout its existence, Section 13 was the subject of significant legal and political controversy regarding its constitutionality and its impact on freedom of expression, culminating in several major legal challenges.