Letter to the editor: Opposition to Bill C-51
I am adamantly opposed to the Conservative government’s Bill C- 51. It undermines the foundations of Canada’s Charter of Rights and Freedoms – and what it means to be Canadian. Because of its very fuzzy definitions of “terrorism,” “safety,” and “security,” it casts a very wide net that could engulf many innocent groups. It gives sweeping new powers to the Canadian Security and Intelligence Service without adequate independent oversight. The mere sharing of an on-line comment could be defined as “general support” of an illegal act. This could be criminalized under Bill C-51. What is happening to free speech in this country, to a Canadian’s right to comment on public events? As well, rather than use the Criminal Code, CSIS will now be able to appear before a judge at a secret hearing and could then arrest and interrogate a suspect.
A growing number of legal scholars, civil liberties groups and political scientists believe Bill C-51 erodes our democracy. The privacy commissioner of Canada, Daniel Therrien, stated; “The scale of information sharing being proposed is unprecedented, the scope of the new powers conferred by the Act is excessive, particularly as these powers affect ordinary Canadians, and the safeguards protecting against unreasonable loss of privacy are seriously deficient.”
Under Bill C51, legitimate protests by Aboriginal, student, and environmental groups – as well as other legitimate political protests – can be interpreted as being unsafe. Thus they could be deemed to be threatening national security or disrupting the economy or endangering the financial stability of Canada. Remember, this is the same government that has labeled environmental protestors as Eco Terrorists. This legislation is creating a “Big Brother World” where our rights and privacy – those values that we believe are truly Canadian – are being hacked away.
This is the Harper government’s legislation. But Justin Trudeau`s Liberals supported it. Thomas Mulcair and the federal NDP caucus voted against this Bill. That is one reason why I am running in Thunder Bay Superior North in the next federal election as a New Democrat. I want to join a principled team that will fight for the Canada we all want. I am committed to the fight to repeal Bill C- 51.
Sincerely,
Andrew Foulds
Federal NDP Candidate
Thunder Bay Superior North