The Canadian government is determined to pass its proposed anti-terrorism law Bill C-51 despite criticism from the opposition parties and some legal experts.
Photo Credit: Parliament of Canada

Government determined to pass anti-terrorism bill despite opposition criticism

Canada’s opposition parties continue to question the advisability of a proposed new bill to fight terrorism, suggesting Canadians are being asked to choose between security and their rights.

The ruling Conservative government of Prime Minister Stephen Harper insists Bill C-51, Anti-terrorism Act, 2015, is necessary to help Canada’s police and spy agency CSIS in their battle against terrorism.

Legal experts and both the Official Opposition NDP party and the Liberal opposition want the new powers more clearly explained, and oversight included in the bill.

The bill gives authorities wider powers to fight terrorism, the right to disrupt security threats, including the commission of illegal acts.

RCI’s Wojtek Gwiazda has a report.

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More information:
Bill C-51, Anti-terrorism Act, 2015 (text) – here
Globe and Mail – Five key questions remain as Ottawa presses ahead with anti-terrorism bill – here
Social Science Research Network – Bill C-51 Backgrounder #2: The Canadian Security Intelligence Service’s Proposed Power to ‘Reduce’ Security Threats Through Conduct that May Violate the Law and Charter – here

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