Specific references to “the swastika and the Confederate flag” were deleted after MP @LeslynLewis suggested ban also apply to blackface.
If they just wanted to ban blackface they could have added that as one more "specific reference." Removing specific references altogether leaves it more open to the Canadian courts to interpret what "hate symbol" means, and I think the reason for doing that is obvious.
Schrodinger's Offense. Both innocuous and intolerable depending on the observer.
...so, offense in general, then.
If they just wanted to ban blackface they could have added that as one more "specific reference." Removing specific references altogether leaves it more open to the Canadian courts to interpret what "hate symbol" means, and I think the reason for doing that is obvious.