Harper may have just turned Indigenous activists into terror

[Oscar]

Harper may have just turned Indigenous activists into terrorists

[ http://rabble.ca/blogs/bloggers/pamela- ... 0&at_tot=5 ]

By Pamela Palmater | February 12, 2015

EXCERPT:

All of the rights, freedoms and liberties upon which Canadian democracy rests [ http://laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/const/page-15.html ] will be suspended with Bill C-51. [ http://www.parl.gc.ca/HousePublications ... Id=6932136 ] This bill creates what has been described as Harper's "Secret Police force" with terrifying expanded powers. The purpose of the bill is to eliminate any "threat to security of Canada" which includes any activity that undermines the sovereignty, security or territorial integrity of Canada. It also includes some of the following:

◾interference with the administration of justice;
◾interference with diplomatic relations;
◾the economic or financial stability of Canada;
◾terrorism; and
◾interference with critical infrastructure.

The specific powers granted under the bill greatly expand the powers of CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service) from an organization that collects and analyzes information related to security -- to one which can take law enforcement action. They are further empowered to take measures against anything they deem to constitute a threat to Canada -- inside or outside of the country. Additional anti-terrorism powers under the bill include:

◾Materials deemed to be terrorist propaganda can be seized or removed from a website;
◾Standards of investigation and arrest will be lowered from proof to suspicion;
◾Police may arrest someone if they merely "think" that a terrorist act "may" be carried out; and
◾Deny air transportation to anyone who they "suspect" may be engaging in terrorist activity.

According to security law experts like Craig Forcese and Kent Roach, this new offence of "advocating or promoting terrorism" is not at all clear and Canadians should be extremely concerned about its conflict with the Charter of Rights and Freedoms. One of their concerns is that it gives the police "substantial and unusually invasive powers" to be exercised under their own discretion. A significant change from offences against the promotion of hatred is the fact that anti-terrorism applies to statements made in private and implies extensive wire-tapping. They fear this bill will result in "speech chill" -- the fear to exercise our right to free speech.

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Dr. Pamela D. Palmater is a Mi'kmaw lawyer and member of the Eel River Bar First Nation in New Brunswick. She teaches Indigenous law, politics and governance at Ryerson University and heads their Centre for Indigenous Governance.