Defend Our Canadian Rights and Freedoms

[Panich52]

Defend Our Rights and Freedoms
February 13, 2015
This is from the Toronto Star:
http://contacts.elizabethmaymp.ca/sites/all/modules/civicrm/extern/url.php?u=102188&qid=13949132

“So far, the only opposition MP with enough guts to critique the content of the Conservative government’s new anti-terror bill is Green Party Leader Elizabeth May.”

In late January, the Harper Conservatives introduced a new bill under the guise of fighting terrorism that is invasive, overreaching and dangerously vague.

Acts of terrorism are a threat that must be addressed, but C-51 is not primarily an anti-terrorism law. http://contacts.elizabethmaymp.ca/sites/all/modules/civicrm/extern/url.php?u=102189&qid=13949132 We already have anti-terror laws, prohibiting terrorism, treason, sedition, espionage, and the proliferation of nuclear and biological weapons.

Bill C-51 would expand CSIS’ powers to enable them to conduct any operation it thinks is in the interest of Canadian security. The definition of activities “undermining the security of Canada” is vague and undefined, and lists at least nine types of threats, including interference with “economic or financial stability,” “global information infrastructure,” and “critical infrastructure.”

These definitions are so overly broad they could apply to almost anything. Elizabeth has twice asked the government whether C-51 would apply to non-violent civil disobedience, such as blockading along a pipeline route. Neither Public Safety Minister Stephen Blaney nor Justice Minister Peter MacKay would provide that assurance. Without assurances to the contrary, we can only assume this bill could now treat peaceful protesters as potential terrorists.

The government’s own Privacy Commissioner said the bill will allow too much information sharing, and that it will impact the privacy of innocent Canadians.

This new legislation risks turning the Canadian Security Intelligence Service into a “secret police force” without proper oversight or accountability.

Please stand with Elizabeth today -- add your voice and tell the government and opposition that our civil liberties are more important than partisan politics.

Green Party MPs will continue to be your voice in the House of Commons, defending your civil liberties as a top priority.

Tell your MP that sacrificing individual rights and freedoms is not the solution to the threat of terrorism.

Please add your name here: greenparty.ca/defend-our-rights-and-freedoms
http://greenparty.ca/en/defend-our-rights-and-freedoms

If you are able, please print out the paper petition http://contacts.elizabethmaymp.ca/sites/all/modules/civicrm/extern/url.php?u=102191&qid=13949132 and collect signatures in your community. With 25 signatures, Elizabeth can table the petition in the House of Commons.

Thank you for standing up to protect Canadians’ civil liberties.

..

[blkmusclmachine]

1. Big Brother, eh.

[blkmusclmachine]

2. Good article: "Understanding Harper's Evangelical Mission"

Signs mount that Canada's government is beholden to a religious agenda averse to science and rational debate.

Unknown to most Canadians, the prime minister belongs to the Christian and Missionary Alliance, an evangelical Protestant church with two million members. The church believes that the free market is divinely inspired and that non-believers are "lost."

Given his government's pointed attacks on environmentalists and science of any kind, Harper would seem to take his advice from the Cornwall Alliance, a coalition of hard right-wing scholars, economists and evangelicals. The Alliance questions mainstream science, doubts climate change, views environmentalism as "evil," champions fossil fuels and supports libertarian economics.

A Cornwall declaration describes environmental regulation as an impediment to God's will:

We aspire to a world in which liberty as a condition of moral action is preferred over government-initiated management of the environment as a means to common goals.

A book published by the Alliance called Resisting the Green Dragon: Dominion not Death even portrays environmental groups as "one of the greatest threats to society and the Church today."

http://thetyee.ca/Opinion/2012/03/26/Harper-Evangelical-Mission/

[alcina]

3. I'm constantly telling people about this

And it amazes me how many people are surprised by it.

[alcina]

4. Thank you for this information

It's also worth noting that Thomas Mulcair and the NDP are likely to oppose the bill:

http://www.thestar.com/news/canada/2015/02/13/ndp-history-pushing-thomas-mulcair-to-oppose-anti-terror-bill-walkom.html

However, I think it would help if there was more pressure on them. You can send your comments to the NDP via this link:

http://www.ndp.ca/contact