July 26th, 2016

What experts are saying about Bill C-51

Stephen Harper may not be Prime Minister, but his dangerous spy bill is still law.

Experts have spoken up about ways the bill could impact the constitutional rights of Canadians and the very health of our democracy. Meanwhile, the Director of CSIS has confirmed the spy agency has already used the sweeping powers granted under C-51 almost a dozen times.

The Liberals promised to put an end to the politics of fear and division – and this starts with repealing Stephen Harper’s spy bill. Sign the petition and demand action on Bill C-51.

Let’s take a look at what experts have said about Harper’s spy bill:

[It 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.

Open letter signed by more than 100 academics

It is “unprecedented” and “excessive,” with “seriously deficient” privacy safeguards.

– Privacy Commissioner Daniel Therrien, Submission to the Standing Committee on Public Safety and National Security

Bill C-51… represents a massive expansion of state power without adequate oversight or safeguards, and no evidence that the new provisions are necessary or effective.

– International Civil Liberties Monitoring Group, Submission to the Standing Committee on Public Safety and National Security

First Nations maintain that Bill C-51 will infringe our freedom of speech and assembly, our right to be free of unreasonable search and seizure, our right to liberty, our fundamental rights as peoples under section 35 of the Constitution Act, 1982, our Treaty rights and our right to self-determination.

– Assembly of First Nations, Presentation to the Standing Committee on Public Safety and National Security

Promising public safety as an exchange for sacrificing individual liberties and democratic safeguards is not, in our view, justifiable or realistic. Both are essential and complementary in a free and democratic society. Safety cannot be won at the expense of Canada’s constitutional rights and freedoms.

– The Canadian Bar Association, Full Brief on Bill C-51

It’s clear that Bill C-51 weakens the fundamental freedoms of every single Canadian and threatens our open society with an atmosphere of fear. It’s time for the Liberals to take action to repeal Harper’s spy bill and protect our personal freedoms.

Sign the petition to demand action on Bill C-51:

http://ndp.ca/repeal-harpers-bill-c-51