Plea to preserve civil liberties following attack

Canadian legislators are being asked to safeguard civil liberties when considering new laws to protect against attacks like last week’s shootings at the National War Memorial and in Parliament. The Canadian Civil Liberties Association has written a letter to all members of Parliament saying it is “deeply troubled” by comments already made by top politicians.

Suggestions for change ‘dramatic and dangerous’

Shortly after the attack, the prime minister spoke of “strengthening” laws in the area of “surveillance, detention and arrest,” and the public safety minister mentioned “adjusting” the thresholds for preventive arrest. The letter says these comments “do not represent simply minor modifications to our moral fibre as a country,” but that they are “dramatic and dangerous” changes.

“We want to guard against into turning into a full-out surveillance in which all citizens suddenly become suspects,” says Sukanya Pillay, director of the Canadian Civil Liberties Association. “We’re already moving in that direction and that’s alarming to us.

‘Canadians…are very committed to democratic principles’

“We are, in Canada, a democracy and as Canadians we are very committed to democratic principles which include such things as due process…such things as freedom of expression. We believe that these are vital, even negative expression,” says Pillay.

Before passing any measures in reaction to the attacks, she says members of Parliament need to consider what police and intelligence powers already exist and whether they were used last week. She adds that they must also examine whether new powers would be more effective and what impact they might have on fundamental rights and freedoms. Such deliberations take time, says Pillay.

“We have to guard against a knee-jerk reaction which is, while it’s understandable, could have lasting damage to democracy in this country.”