You need to remember, however, this law isn't about creating a defense for a criminal proceeding. It's about criminalizing behavior taken against certain classes of "victims" and, some argue (including rex), creating penalties for what would be otherwise constitutionally-protected protests against those classes.
I do understand that, and I do think that there needs to be heavier penalties for hate crimes. I know the average joe doesn't see the need, but anyone of a minority group will tell you that being subjected to violent activity on account of your colour/gender/sexuality is a very real, very terrifying prospect. And the outcomes of such attacks are more often than not more vicious and degrading than the average random violent act.
That said...I still don't see anyone finding it appropriate to protect a child rapist. As a culture (in so much as we in Canada share certain core values as well...), this is among the most abhorrent of crimes. No judge or jury is going to sit there and punish someone for beating down the guy who attacked their child with any extra sentence this law may allow. He's still going to see his day in court for the retaliation, but I don't see him being sentenced under hate crimes provisions.
