Bill C-51 wraps up at committee with few changes

Not one of the more than 100 amendments submitted by opposition parties to try and change the government’s much-criticized anti-terror bill were adopted as a House of Commons committee wrapped up its study of the legislation.

MPs adopted three minor amendments — the ones tabled by the Conservatives and leaked late last week. The government amendments included changes to the “lawful protest” aspect of the bill, which clarifies CSIS does not have law enforcement powers and puts limitations on Canada’s public safety minister’s ability to direct airlines in efforts to prevent terrorist activities.

Anti-terror Bill C-51 to be changed as Tories respond to criticism

1- The government will also put forward an amendment to make it clear that CSIS agents would not have the power to arrest people.

Open letter to Parliament: Amend C-51 or kill it!

Dear Members of Parliament,

Please accept this collective open letter as an expression of the signatories’ deep concern that Bill C-51 (which the government is calling the Anti-terrorism Act, 2015) is a dangerous piece of legislation in terms of its potential impacts on the rule of law, on constitutionally and internationally protected rights, and on the health of Canada’s democracy.

Anti-terrorism bill C-51 'dangerous' legislation, 100 academics say

More than 100 academics are urging the government to drastically alter C-51, the Conservatives' proposed anti-terrorism legislation, arguing it is far too broad and doesn't come with safeguards to protect Canadians' privacy rights.

The group, made up mainly of law professors from across Canada, have signed an open letter arguing the proposed bill has major problems that threaten Canadians' privacy and freedom of speech.

Canada is no home for Bill C-51

A family protesting clear-cut logging on Haida Gwaii; grandparents speaking out against war; First Nations blocking a pipeline through their traditional lands; union workers engaged in a wildcat strike; fishermen opposed to oil tanker traffic; filmmakers documenting civil disobedience; journalists advocating an independent Quebec — what do each of these groups have in common?

Each could be charged with terrorism under the Conservative’s draconian Bill C-51, which would criminalize any action deemed a threat to the economic and financial security of Canada, to critical infrastructure or to Canada’s diplomatic relations.

Quebec's not so quiet revolution, and why we all need to join it!

Bill C-51 bars CSIS from committing 'bodily harm,' sexual violation

The government's proposed anti-terror legislation expands the powers of Canadian Security Intelligence Service to allow it to "disrupt" suspected terrorist threats — but it also expressly prohibits CSIS from killing or seriously injuring a subject.

What's not clear exactly is where the line between those activities is drawn and what that means for the agency when it comes to interrogation techniques, experts on civil liberties and security point out.

Walrus - Bill C-51:
 the Good, the Bad . . . and the Truly Ugly

Bill C-51, the Harper government’s recently proposed “Anti-terrorism Act,” restructures our national security laws so extensively that it will take years before we understand the law’s full effect. There is good in the act, but there also is bad, and even truly ugly. The details are difficult for non-experts to navigate. That is why we are providing Walrus readers with this summary.

از نکات مثبت این لایحه اینست که با امور امنیتی کشور از طریق قوانین برخورد خواهد شد و نه از طریق مصوباتی که دولت با استفاده از  قدرت خود به اجرا در میاورد . یک از این موارد لیست آنهائی میباشد که ممنوعیت پرواز دارند که سابق بر این ضوابط مشخصی نداشته است.

برخوردهای شدی  و بازجوهائی خشونت آمیز بعد از حوادث یازده سپنامبررایج گردیدند. این خطر وجود دارد که این لایحه این نوع رفتار ها را در کانادا متداول کند، بخصوص که مدت بازداشت شخص مورد سوء ظن طبق این لایحه از سه روز به هفت روز افزایش پیدا میکند.

Anti-terror Bill C-51 to be changed as Tories respond to criticism

The government will propose a handful of amendments to the proposed anti-terror bill when it goes to clause-by-clause review on Tuesday, CBC News has learned, including a proposal that would protect protests from being captured by the new measures.

Bill C-51: NDP outlines plan to scrap 'dangerous provisions'

They will also put forward a number of substantive amendments, including:
- Restoring the position of CSIS inspector general, which was abolished in 2012.
- Regular reports to the House by the Security Intelligence Review Committee.
- Stricter limits on information-sharing provisions to cover only terrorism.
- Stronger privacy protections throughout the bill.
- Sunset clauses and mandatory review requirements.

تغییرات پیشنهادی حزب نیو دموکرات
- برقراری مجدد سمت بازرس سازمان اطلاعات که در سال 2012 منحل شده بود.
- ارائه گزارش به پارلمان
- محدود کردن اشتراک گذاری اطلاعات فقط به موارد تروریستی
- حمایت از حریم خصوصی قوی تر در سراسر این لایحه.
- تعیین محدودیت زمانی و نیاز به بررسی مجدد

Excerpted from Civil Disobedience by Henry David Thoreau - 1849.

Very relevant today still.