A law too vague to be safe
2015-03-10
The Conservative’s Bill C-51 has certainly seen its fair share of commentary from both sides of the aisle. Some say it is necessary in our changing world, where terrorism has become more of a threat than it was in decades past. Others say it’s a fan letter to George Orwell’s 1984, where the government can snuff out any dissenting voices and step into the personal lives of Canadians that would be presumed guilty before being proven innocent.
There are definitely some issues with the bill. One of great concerns is the increased powers that will be given to the Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS) – our version of the CIA. The new bill empowers CSIS to act on disrupting potential plots and reduce threats in Canada – a role currently done by the RCMP.
However, this new role – effectively mixing policing and intelligence gathering – is what led to the creation of CSIS in the first place, with the McDonald Commission in 1981 finding that the two should be separate.
A much more sensible option here would be to open up more communication between the two entities so that they are on the same page and working together – a recommendation that came in regards to the FBI and the CIA following the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks more than a decade ago.
Another much debated portion of the bill is the part that addresses the “promotion of terrorism.” However, what exactly constitutes promotion or terrorism isn’t exactly addressed. “Terrorism” has been used broadly in modern vernacular, describing everything from bombings and shootings to rowdy protests. Groups such as Amnesty International have sounded alarm bells over this part of the bill.
However, we are living in a different world. Last year saw the murder of two Canadian soldiers in attacks in Ottawa and Quebec. The changing face of global conflict had, after many years, landed on our doorstep. It was, sadly, an inevitability. The government had no choice but to act. But this knee jerk reaction, which bears some resemblance to much maligned American Patriot Act that came following the 9/11 attacks, isn’t the way to go. It, quite frankly, just isn’t Canadian.