p 1. Is freedom of expression under threat? The bill is expected to include provisions that will make it illegal to encourage, support or condone terrorist acts online.” Critics and civil liberty advocates worry about their piggyback effect on other areas of free speech. The Post notes there is already a provision in the Criminal Code for “hate propaganda,” which makes it unclear how any new legislation will work in tandem with existing laws. Some critics worry about the definition of “terror” and terrorist and whether the legislation could be used to target groups opposed to government policies, such as an environmental group opposing a pipeline. Journalist David Climenhaga worries that the real targets are far more likely to be unions, environmentalists, uppity scientists, pipeline opponents, reproductive rights advocates, social media commentators and others on the PMs ever-lengthening Enemies List. Food for thought: In 2012, Public Safety Minister Vic Toews at the time, listed eco-terrorists as threats in a new anti-terrorism strategy, and promised vigilance against domestic extremism stemming from other advocacy (e.g. animal rights, environmentalism and anti-capitalism) Also in 2012, Joe Oliver, then minister of natural resources, issued an open letter railing against environmental and other radical groups who take funding from foreign special interest groups to undermine Canadas national economic interest and threaten to hijack our regulatory system to achieve their radical ideological agenda. 2. Personal information overload? The bill is expected to make it easier for security agencies -- and government departments -- to obtain and share personal information previously protected under privacy laws. This comes amidst ongoing concerns over spying provisions in the governments cyberbullying bill, which was passed in October. Personal data is a sensitive topic. For example, a 2014 Supreme Court ruling has not stopped law-enforcement agencies from making warrant-less requests for the personal data of Canadian telecom customers. Michael Geist sums up the ongoing concerns regarding the accountability and transparency of Canada’s security intelligence agencies after the passing of Bill C-44, the Protection of Canada from Terrorists Act, also in October. The bill was intended to counteract earlier judicial rulings curtailing the powers of CSIS, Canada’s domestic intelligence agency. Monitoring of opposition groups is hardly unprecedented. In 2013, the National Energy Board, RCMP and CSIS coordinated to monitor and identify social media users associated with well-known advocacy groups in order to make security plans and deter illegal activities in advance of pipeline hearings. And security expert Ron Deibert, author of Black Code: Surveillance, Privacy, and the Dark Side of the Internet, describes ubiquitous surveillance programs already directed at Canadians under Communications Security Establishment Canada. So the big question is: how much further will the new legislation go on top of existing powers and practices? 3. What are the new tools for arrest, detention and surveillance? Harper told the House in the fall that the legislation would provide law-enforcement agencies with “additional tools” – specifically in the areas of arrest, detention and surveillance. The threshold for preventative detention without charge is expected to be lowered – at least partially through the new provision against supporting terrorist acts online. The bill is also expected to ease the process for security forces to procure court-ordered peace bonds that can limit the movements and activities of national security targets, and to soften the grounds for preventative arrests. Whether such new policing tools stand up to legal scrutiny remains to be seen, but cases like Maher Arar have already demonstrated their potential for misuse. The Globes Martin ponders the issue further: How open to abuse might they be? Would they make it easier for a government with a long enemies list, one that has employed undercover sting operations, to target opponents, or to monitor and disrupt labour and environment movements? 4. Are new powers for law enforcement necessary? Experts, including the Canadian Bar Association, have noted that law enforcement agencies already have access to a wide variety of powers, including preventative detention under certain circumstances, under the 2013 anti-terrorism act. Critics are likely to question parts of the new legislation if they overlap or push-the-envelope on existing measures. “It’s just baffling to me that they would try this, the idea that it’s too hard to use these (existing powers) so therefore we need to lower the threshold,” Carmen Cheung, senior counsel at the civil liberties association, told the Citizen. Senator Colin Kenney notes that eight pieces of anti-terror legislation have passed through Parliament since 2001, and argues more funding is required to meet the threat -- not additional laws. As the Globes Martin sums up: One can debate the pros and cons of such measures. There’s no easy answer. But are there not enough such powers already? Do we need a whole new slate? 5. What are the working models for our legislation? The Post’s John Ivison suggests the legislation is “likely to mirror laws” introduce in the U.K. after the 2005 London bombings -- which were controversial and used infrequently. Among other things, the British law criminalizes “direct or indirect” encouragement of “the commission, preparation or instigation of terrorism.” The Citizen reports that the bill will contain a beefed up travel-restriction component (resembling one from Australia) -- essentially preventing high-risk citizens from overseas travel with the intent of hostile activity. pressprogress.ca/en/post/5-things-keep-eye-harpers-anti-terrorism-bill
Posted on: Tue, 27 Jan 2015 01:16:17 +0000
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