"We are totally against this new bill because a strong case has not been made as to their necessity," outlines Roch Tassé, co-ordinator at International Civil Liberties Monitoring Group in Ottawa. "These are laws that have not been used in any post-9/11 national security cases - this is legislation that spells out an erosion of freedoms and civil liberties for people in Canada, a daunting extension of policing powers."

Although the Bloc Québécois and NDP are slated to vote against the legislation, the position of the Liberals, who originally introduced the Anti-Terrorism Act in 2002, is not yet clear.

Under the reintroduced legislation, security services and police can arrest "suspects" of terrorism, and legally hold them for up to three days without approval from the legal system. Authorities can make people testify at closed-door investigative hearings without laying any formal charges or the accusations being brought forward in a court of law.

"Essentially, through the 'investigative hearings' the right to remain silent is erased, a bedrock to legal rights in a democratic society," explains Tassé. "Without any formal charges being brought forward, an individual would be obliged to answer questions. This is a law that clearly could lead to an abuse of policing powers."









 
 

		Write your comment on this article!

IMPORTANT to say NO     Regardless of whether it appears that "the fix ix in", it is important that we strongly dissent. Erosion of civil and personal liberties can and must be challenged and stopped. It begins by saying NO - so tell your MP it's NO and to pass that on. Do the same directly to Harper and to Cons. Justice Minister Rob Nicholson. And check this while you're at it: http://ezralevant.com/2008/05/justice-minister-rob-nicholson.html.
Wayne Frese		April 24th, 2009
Conservatives extend police powers     This is to be expected, with the hard line of the U.S. regarding their border. However, the fact remains that the U.S. will not open up the border with Canada until our laws match theirs which is a total attack on our sovereigty. Let's face it, they insist and Harper just bends with their wishes. Just like he has been bent to the proposal to have the BIS start a new world currency. Day by day, Canada is being sold off, one way or another.
Jim Upper		April 21st, 2009
Quote: "Under the reintroduced legislation, security services and police can arrest "suspects" of terrorism, and legally hold them for up to three days without approval from the legal system. Authorities can make people testify at closed-door investigative hearings without laying any formal charges or the accusations being brought forward in a court of law. " And on what grounds, I wonder, could you be considered as a "suspected" terrorist?
Robert Chisholm		April 16th, 2009

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