Greater VictoriaB次元官网网址檚 MPs are raising the red flag over the Conservative governmentB次元官网网址檚 plan to resurrect controversial anti-terrorism measures.
Last week, Prime Minister Stephen Harper said he was looking at bringing back the ability for police to arrest someone for three days without a warrant if itB次元官网网址檚 believed they may be involved in terrorist activity.
The measure expired in 2007 due to a B次元官网网址渟unset clauseB次元官网网址� attached to it when it was brought in as part of the Anti-Terrorism Act after the 9/11 attacks in the U.S.
VictoriaB次元官网网址檚 NDP and Green MPs say they donB次元官网网址檛 approve of such an B次元官网网址渦nnecessaryB次元官网网址� step backward.
B次元官网网址淭he only message IB次元官网网址檝e been receiving from my constituents is we should do what we can to protect Canada from these kind of draconian and anti-democratic measures,B次元官网网址� Saanich-Gulf Islands MP Elizabeth May said. B次元官网网址淚t strikes me as excessive and quite unnecessary, and it does real damage to our civil liberties.B次元官网网址�
Victoria MP Denise Savoie says the NDP wonB次元官网网址檛 support the amendments, as the provision is one that promotes politics of fear and division.
B次元官网网址淲e canB次元官网网址檛 afford to sacrifice these fundamental rights and freedoms in the name of fear,B次元官网网址� she said. B次元官网网址淧erhaps when democracy is being challenged, what we need is more democracy, not less.B次元官网网址�
She argues that judicial oversight is needed in balancing public safety with human rights. Giving law enforcement unnecessary powers isnB次元官网网址檛 a viable argument in the supposed name of security.
ItB次元官网网址檚 a sentiment echoed by University of Victoria political science professor Colin Bennett.
B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 deeply troubling. ThereB次元官网网址檚 no evidence that law enforcement needs these powers,B次元官网网址� he said.
Also concerning to Bennett is lawful access legislation that, like the Anti-Terrorism Act, is being perceived as an invasion of civil rights.
B次元官网网址淭his would give law enforcement extended access to our subscriber information from all our Internet communication and mobile devices without a warrant,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 deeply troubling they want to do this without any judicial oversight. ... These both turn our constitutional guarantees on its head.B次元官网网址�
May says as a non-committee member she is one of only five MPs that has the ability to present amendments to bills at the report stage in the House of Commons. She plans on making sure the strong opposition to these provisions is heard.
B次元官网网址淚 have more potential to change bills than MPs in the Liberal, the NDP or the Conservative caucuses,B次元官网网址� she said. B次元官网网址淲e need everyone, Conservatives too, to ask, B次元官网网址楢re we safer when we decide to surrender civil liberties?B次元官网网址� I donB次元官网网址檛 think thatB次元官网网址檚 necessarily the case.B次元官网网址�
