The Editor,
This legislation is sold on the premise to keep Canadians safe from terrorists. This bill broadly criminalizes the advocating of terrorism in general. It also gives agencies vast information sharing abilities with no enhanced protection for privacy. What Harper considers oversight is giving judges the ability to sign off in advance of CISIS breaking Canadian laws. Harper thereby turns judges into agents of the government. Isn’t this the creation of CISIS into a secret police?
When C-51 was first proposed, it was supported by 4 out of 5 Canadians. On March 3, a poll stated that 93 per cent of Canadians oppose C-51, John Barber, reported in the Guardian.
"More than 100 Canadian law professors have warned the prime minister, Stephen Harper, that a sweeping new anti-terror law is a dangerous piece of legislation that will threaten to undermine the rule of law, human rights and democracy itself."
Another group of four former prime ministers, five former Supreme Court justices and several cabinet ministers signed an open letter advocating scraping C-51.
"Protecting human rights and protecting public safety are complementary objectives, but experience has shown that serious human abuses can occur in the name of maintaining national security. Given the secrecy around national security activities, abuses can go undetected and without remedy. This results not only in devastating personal consequences for the individual, but a profoundly negative impact on Canada’s reputation as a rights respecting nation"
Harper’s anti terror bill will invoke terror on the people of Canada. Please phone or write your MP if you believe in liberty. Canadians tend to take their freedom for granted. I hope you’re not one of them.
Inky Mark, former MP
Dauphin, Man.
