Published | Publié: 2015-03-27
Received | Reçu: 2015-03-27 1:34 PM
CBC.ca: Manitoba
The government's proposed anti-terror legislation would be stripped of "dangerous" measures that would increase the power and scope of the Canadian Security Intelligence Service under the amendments unveiled by the New Democrats on Friday.
" testimony that we've heard has confirmed what we've said since the beginning," New Democrat public safety critic Randall Garrison told reporters.
"This is a dangerous, ineffective bill that should not be adopted."
Garrison, who was joined at the lectern by deputy public safety critic Rosane Doré Lefebvre, outlined the changes that the NDP will be backing when the bill goes to clause-by-clause review next week.
The NDP will urge their committee colleagues to reject some of the most controversial provisions outright, including the new disruption powers to be extended to CSIS, the lowered threshold for preventative detention and the creation of what they describe as "a vague new offence which lumps dissent with violent extremism."
'De-radicalization co-ordinator'
They will also put forward a number of substantive amendments, including:
- Restoring the position of CSIS Inspector General, which was abolished in 2012
- Regular reports to the House by the Security Intelligence Review Committee
- Stricter limits on information-sharing provisions to cover only terrorism
- Stronger privacy protections throughout the bill
- Sunset clauses and mandatory review requirements
The party also wants to appoint a "community outreach and de-radicalization co-ordinator" who would "liaise with government departments, agencies, academic experts, community leaders and associations in order to implement, coordinate and lead government initiatives to build relationships with communities at risk of radicalization."
Earlier this week, New Democratic Party house leader Peter Julian served notice that the NDP may attempt to seek approval of the House to expand the bill, which would be necessary to make any substantive changes to the text.
Liberal public safety critic Wayne Easter and rights and freedoms critic Irwin Cotler released their party's proposed amendments on Thursday.
Liberals to propose more oversight
Among their key recommendations:
- Increased oversight, including setting up a joint parliamentary committee to monitor the activities of Canadian intelligence agencies, including CSIS and CSEC.
- Explicitly exempting "advocacy, protest, dissent and artistic expression" from being targeted under the new provisions.
- Limiting the power of CSIS to request judicial authorization for measures that could contravene Charter rights.
- Sunset clauses that would automatically repeal several provisions of the bill unless renewed after three years, which would also be the timeline for a mandatory statutory review of the legislation as a whole.
"We bring these amendments forward in good faith to improve the bill and to find the balance between national securities, civil liberties and freedom of expression," Easter told reporters.
"If the government is not willing to allow Parliament to work as it should, then we will be placing these amendments in our election platform this fall."
Cotler pointed out that in 2001, he publicly questioned elements of the post-9/11 anti-terror bill put forward by his own party, which was in government at the time.
"I rose in the House on Oct. 16 - and I know Hansard is not a bestseller, but you can find it there, and I said I had 10 civil libertarian objections to my government's own legislation at the time," he recalled.
Broadbent slams Liberal position
"I mention that, because it shows the robust debate within the government, leaving aside what the opposition may have recommended."
The government has not yet indicated whether it will support - or propose - any changes to the bill.
The Liberals voted to support the bill at second reading, and are expected to do the same when it goes to a final vote next month - with or without amendment.
That's drawn the ire of the New Democrats, most recently the party's former leader, Ed Broadbent.
Speaking at the Progress Summit in Ottawa on Friday morning, he recalled that he had "worked hard with Pierre Trudeau between 1980 and 1982 to create what is possibly the best Charter of Rights in the world."
"I never thought I'd see the day his party would back away from its defence," he said.
"C-51 is flawed. C-51 is dangerous. C-51 must be defeated by Parliament."
Date: 2015/03/27, Time: 09:31
Online: http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/bill-c-51-ndp-outlines-plan-to-scrap-dangerous-provisions-1.3011881
NDP Critic for Canadian Heritage Peter Julian issued the following statement:
"It has come to our attention that a consultant for a federally funded anti-racism project has a disturbing track record of spewing hate speech online against Jewish and francophone communities. This is completely unacceptable. We call on the Minister of Heritage to take drastic action and terminate his contract.
NDP Heritage Critic Peter Julian issued the following statement:
“Today’s announcement by Hockey Canada is another attempt to delay the important and urgent work to deal with the toxic culture in this organization. While a former Supreme Court Justice is a credible appointment to conduct the review into Hockey Canada, this won’t be the first time the organization undergoes this process.
NDP critic for Canadian Heritage, Peter Julian, made the following statement:
“Canadians are horrified by the incidents of sexual assault and by what they’re hearing from Hockey Canada. They are left with many questions about how this toxic culture is allowed to persist in our sports organizations and what the government is actually doing to ensure this doesn’t happen again.