It might be aimed at stemming terrorist threats, but the Conservative’s anti-terror bill is raising concerns, especially among those who oppose the construction of oil pipelines.
Critics of Bill C–51 say that Stephen Harper is using fear and the spectre of international terrorism to push the Canadian people to agree to trading their freedoms for safety. They say the piece of legislation goes too far, is too broad and has serious problems including a lack of oversight for the new powers it would give the Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS), Canada’s spy agency.
But Stephen Harper said that the powers are necessary to oppose the growing threat that violent jihadists present to Canadians and anyone who does not share their oppressive world-view.
The proposed anti-terrorism legislation allows for authorities to “disrupt” suspected terrorist activities, make preventive arrests of suspected terrorists. The bill also criminalizes the spreading of terrorist propaganda.
There’s no question that ISIS does pose a threat to Canadians, but does it warrant trampling the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms? The government’s response should be proportional and common sense, something that Bill C–51 is not.
Canada already has anti-terror laws which have worked fine up to this point to disrupt terrorist plots. That’s how they broke up the Toronto 18, the VIA rail plot and stopped ISIS sympathizers before they could move their plans into action. And the government has already given CSIS and the RCMP broader powers which arguably already tread on Canadians’ charter rights.
Terrorism, treason, sedition, espionage and the proliferating nuclear and biological weapons are already illegal activities. Added to the bill is “interference with critical infrastructure,” which raises concerns that the bill is targeted at first nations and environmental groups opposing pipelines. BC Civil Liberties Association has said that the provisions of the bill could also be used to target those who are against government policy, although it does say “it does not apply to lawful advocacy, protest, dissent and artists expression.” But, the Harper government is has not made any assurances that people who engage in non-lawful, non-violent civil disobedience, such as blockading along a pipeline route, won’t be labelled terrorists.
