Watch above: Freedom under threat – that’s the message from thousands of people across Canada Saturday who’ve gathered to protest the federal government’s anti-terrorism Bill C-51. As Amber Rockliffe reports, over 150 people came together for a rally at Saskatoon city hall.
SASKATOON – The day of action against Bill C-51 was held Saturday in over 50 cities across Canada. More than 150 people gathered for a rally at Saskatoon city hall to protest the federal government’s anti-terrorism legislation.
“Bill C-51 is terrorizing Canada,” and “Kill Bill C-51,” were just some of the signs protesters held.
“These powers are over-reaching, broad and should concern Canadians who have any semblance of value for their privacy and their freedoms,” said Ethan Erkiletian, protester and the Saskatoon-West candidate for Canada’s Libertarian Party.
“Information sharing in some cases is certainly a good idea, but a lot of times government will abuse it, and if we have limited oversight on that, which we do in Canada, it will be abused, I guarantee it,” Erkiletian explained.
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The proposed anti-terrorism legislation would grant greater powers to police, allowing them to detain terror suspects. It also gives new powers to Canada’s spy agency.
“Specifically it would allow CSIS an opportunity to seek a warrant from federal court to violate charter rights, and that’s something that hasn’t been contemplated before,” said lawyer Josephine de Whytell with the Semaganis Worme Law Firm.
De Whytell said CSIS wasn’t created to be a law enforcement agency.
“That’s why the definition of what they were entitled to investigate was very broad, and it was left open for that reason,” she explained.
“It basically grants a federal court judge a carte blanche to violate the charter.”
In a statement, Federal Public Safety Minister Steven Blaney said, “we reject the argument that every time we talk about security, our freedoms are threatened.”
“Canadians understand that their freedom and security go hand in hand. Canadians expect us to protect both, and there are safeguards in this legislation to do exactly that.”
But “Saskatoon Against C-51” organizer Don Narine said the bill will create a culture of fear.
“It gives Canadians real gripes and concerns about the system pause on voicing their actions, and that’s not a healthy society,” said Narine.
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