The hacker collective Anonymous gets it. C-51 is designed for the things Harper doesn’t like. He doesn’t like free speech. He doesn’t like protestors who take their convictions to the street. He doesn’t like public information getting out there without his approval — so he doesn’t like any displays of independence from scientists, journalists, bureaucrats or judges. He doesn’t like unions, or environmentalists, or opposition in any form. C-51 is made by and for a man who — like every dictator everywhere — thinks that his should be the last word on everything.
Harper's Anti-Terror Bill C-51 One Step Closer To Becoming Law
Harper’s Anti-Terror Bill C-51 One Step Closer To Becoming Law
Talk about ending a political career with a bang! The Liberals and Conservatives that voted for this bill will probably be looking for new jobs after the October elections…
With the support of federal Liberals, the Conservative government’s controversial anti-terror legislation passed the House of Commons Wednesday by a vote of 183 to 96.Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau and NDP Leader Thomas…
Hello Ms. Fry,
As one of your constituents (V6B6M3), I'd like to know why you support the pending Bill C-51.
It's fair to argue that Canada faces threats to its national security and must be vigilant about preventing terror attacks, but any measures taken must also respect the privacy and rights of Canadian citizens -- we must be protected not only from terror but from the real threat of surveillance, harassment, and persecution by our own government.
Bill C-51 is ill-considered, overly broad, and critically lacking in effective, independent oversight, which is why it's been denounced by more than a hundred academics ( http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/anti-terrorism-bill-c-51-dangerous-legislation-100-academics-say-1.2975233 ), four ex-PMs (three of them Liberal), five former Supreme Court justices, three past members of the intelligence review committee, two former privacy commissioners, and a retired RCMP watchdog ( http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/csis-oversight-urged-by-ex-pms-as-conservatives-rush-bill-c-51-debate-1.2963179 ). It of course is also opposed by the government's own privacy commissioner, who as you no doubt know is being prevented from testifying before the Public Safety Committee on this matter ( http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/bill-c-51-privacy-watchdog-daniel-therrien-blocked-from-committee-witness-list-1.2991265 ).
I understand that the Liberal Party has some objections to the bill, but the plain fact is that you are nonetheless voting in favour of it. If you truly agree that the bill is flawed, and expect to be credited for taking that position in the upcoming election, then take a stand that matters and vote against this deeply flawed legislation. Canadians deserve better than Bill C-51, and we deserve representation from people who acknowledge that truth in a meaningful way.
If you'd like to further understand my objections to Bill C-51, this analysis summarizes my position very well: http://www.thestar.com/opinion/commentary/2015/02/17/bill-c-51-moves-us-one-step-closer-to-the-end-of-privacy.html
Lastly, it goes without saying that the saga of Maher Arar should cast a long shadow over any efforts to increase "information sharing" between government agencies without a corresponding increase in oversight, transparency, and accountability. For such a thing to have happened once is horrible, but for us to subsequently pass a law that makes such an episode more likely would be shameful.
Thanks for your time,
Brook Jones
(follow-up - sent 2015.05.04)
Hello again Dr. Fry,
In the absence of a reply to my earlier letter, and in view of the imminent final vote, I’d like to reiterate my thoughts on Bill C-51, and again encourage you to consider voting in the interests of your constituents rather than along party lines.
The parliamentary review process has not succeeded in producing any meaningful amendments to the bill -- I concur with the BC Civil Liberties Association, who concluded their point-by-point analysis of the committee’s changes changes thusly: “This Bill is fundamentally flawed, and cannot be salvaged by any amendment, let alone these four”.
Nor have any of the Liberal Party’s proposed amendments been adopted -- and even those were deemed inadequate by the Canadian Civil Liberties Association: “While we appreciate the Opposition’s attempt to claw back some of Bill C-51’s most significant excesses, Bill C-51’s constitutional overreaches cannot be remedied through piecemeal amendment”.
It is difficult to understand why you would then vote to enact a bill whose support has plunged steadily as Canadians have learned about exactly how sweeping and unregulated the powers it grants to police and government agencies are. The numerous serious issues identified by Forcese and Roach barely two weeks after the bill was introduced all remain, and if this bill becomes law, it will make Canadians less safe: as the case of Maher Arar has amply demonstrated, we must be protected not only from terrorists, but also from the very real threat of surveillance, harassment, and persecution by our own government.
Please consider your constituents, of whom I am one (V6B6M3), and vote “No” on Bill C-51 tomorrow.
This is nuts. Tell the government to #StopC51 and rein in this reckless, dangerous, and ineffective legislation today.
We have to stop C-51 because it is:
Reckless: It turns CSIS into what The Globe and Mail describes as a ‘secret police’ force with little oversight or accountability.1
Dangerous: It opens the door for violations of our Charter Rights2 including censorship of free expression online.3
Ineffective: It will lead to dragnet surveillance and information sharing on innocent Canadians that even Stephen Harper has admitted is ineffective.4,5
*Add your voice before innocent Canadians are harmed.
If the bill passes, no less than 17 government agencies and even foreign governments will also have access to your sensitive private information.We're talking about sensitive information that can reveal everything from your financial status, to your medical history, your sexual orientation, and even your religious and political beliefs.
This bill disproportionately targets indigenous communities, environmental activists, dissidents, and Muslims, many of whom are already subjected to questionable and overreaching powers by security officials. This bill will make it easier and ostensibly lawful for government to continue infringing upon the rights of peaceful people.
Learn More:
Canadian Journalists for Free Expression: Bill C-51 poses a serious threat to Free Expression in Canada
National Council of Canadian Muslims: Who has the most to fear from Bill C-51? (by Amira Elghawaby)
Who has the most to fear from C-51? Canadian Muslims. via ipolitics.ca #StopC51
“Canada is a great country but, unfortunately, there are many examples where Canadian officials have dispensed with human rights in the name of national security.”
