British Columbia premier, Christy Clark, thinks Harper’s new security legislation, Bill C-51, is dangerous. Clark warns Canadians could come to regret the freedoms taken away by Harper’s proposed legislation. “We should be very careful in Canada, in a country where so many people have sacrificed their lives to preserve our
Continue readingTag: Bill C 51
Politics and its Discontents: If You Had Any Doubts About The RCMP…
Look no further for confirmation of the federal force’s politicization than a piece written by that ‘environmental extremist’ David Suzuki in the Chronicle Herald. In the article, Suzuki makes reference to the secret RCMP report, obtained by Greenpeace, that both minimizes the threat of global warming and conjures a spectre
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: It Could Happen To You
Although the narration is at times melodramatic, the message of this video is clear: trusting government to respect your privacy is a naive notion. H/t Occupy Canada and Operation Maple Recommend this Post
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: Rick Mercer On That Fear Thing
Our National Treasure nails it yet again: And for additional biting commentary, be sure to check out Alison’s latest at Creekside. Recommend this Post
Continue readingThe Canadian Progressive: David Suzuki: Let’s not sacrifice freedom out of fear
Harper government can’t silence activists by labeling them “extremists”, creating police-state legislation such as Bill C-51, argues renowned scientist David Suzuki. The post David Suzuki: Let’s not sacrifice freedom out of fear appeared first on The Canadian Progressive.
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: UPDATED: A Comforting Illusion Shattered
When it comes to massive intrusions by the state, the kind reflected in legislation like Bill C-51, people frequently rationalize their acceptance and passivity by this comforting fiction: “I don’t have anything to hide; I’m not a terrorist, so why should I worry?” A story of one family’s unpleasant experience
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: A Little Perspective, Please
Are we losing all perspective on the threats posed by terrorism? While there is no doubt that all perils to public safety need to be taken seriously (yes, even those posed by pipeline ruptures that Enbridge seems to treat as state secrets), one cannot escape the conclusion that the Harper
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: Details. Mere Details
H/t We Don’t Want This The most egregious, anti-democratic elements of Harper’s terror Bill C-51 are the following: -jail for 5 years if someone posts anything counter to the government and that could be interpreted as a terrorist posting in general; -secret trials; -indefinite detention without charge; -sharing of information
Continue readingSoul mates and the politics of fear
Fabricating a threat to the nation in order to instill fear in the population may be demagoguery, but it is also a highly effective way for leaders to rally the people behind them. Frightened citizens turn conservative and cling to what they know, i.e. the incumbent government, rather than risk
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: On The Politics Of Fear
Regular readers of this blog will have noticed the relative frequency with which I provide links to and samples of Star readers’ letters. One of the obvious reasons is that they tend to have the same political sensibilities as all progressive bloggers, i.e., they are acutely aware of the ongoing
Continue readingThe Canadian Progressive: Harper’s Police State Anti-terrorism Bill C-51 “Dangerous”: 100+ Academics
More than 100 academics sign letter telling Canadian MPs that Harper’s proposed anti-terrorism legislation, Bill C-51, would allow CSIS to violate Canadians’ privacy rights. The post Harper’s Police State Anti-terrorism Bill C-51 “Dangerous”: 100+ Academics appeared first on The Canadian Progressive.
Continue readingThe Disaffected Lib: Even Conrad Black Can’t Stomach Bill C-51
He knows a thing or two about law enforcement, the judicial process and essential liberties. All that has Conrad Black incensed at Bill C-51 which he sees as a threat to the freedom of the Canadian people. He doesn’t like the place into which he believes Stephen Harper plans to
Continue readingMontreal Simon: Why Bill C-51 Will End Up Hurting Stephen Harper
They say Stephen Harper is fit to be tied, or restrained.He can't stand the idea that his monstrously flawed anti-terrorism bill C-51 is going to take weeks, rather than a few days to study in committee.And what must be driving him absolutely crazy is the thought that with every passing
Continue readingParsing Bill C-51— the academics’ letter
The first criticism of Bill C-51, the Anti-terrorism Act 2015, is the fact it is entirely unnecessary. Our criminal law is already capable of dealing with terrorist activities. More to the point, terrorism poses no significant threat to Canadians and therefore no further infringements on Canadians’ civil liberties are warranted.
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: Who’s Watching The Spies?
This from the folks at leadnow.ca: Recommend this Post
Continue readingMontreal Simon: Bill C-51: Is Stephen Harper Feeling the Heat?
You could tell by just looking at him that Stephen Harper hated the very idea. He was angry he was vicious. He went after the opposition like a rabid hyena for daring to criticize his flawed and dangerous anti-terrorism bill.He accused the NDP of "attacking the police and the security services."But in the
Continue readingPaul S. Graham: Stop Bill C-51 #StopHarper
Introduced into Parliament on Jan. 30, 2015, Bill C-51 is an omnibus bill that will undermine constitutionally protected rights and freedoms of Canadians in the guise of combating terrorism. Prime Minister Stephen Harper’s bombastic, saber-rattling YouTube video, published 2 days before the bill was tabled, set the tone. Essentially, Canada
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: Where There’s Smoke….
H/t Mary Ellen Davis Recommend this Post
Continue readingPolitics Canada: Who doubts Harper’s terrorism bill to be used on his political enemies?
When we look at Harper’s horrible shoddy and dangerous “anti-terrorism” bill it causes a sickening deep in the stomach to think of this government with this kind of power at their fingertips. While I don’t believe any government of any stripe should be implementing a bill reducing the freedom of
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: On Hatred And Fear
Those of us who follow Canadian federal politics with a critical eye and mind will likely glean nothing new from Carol Goar’s article in today’s Star, yet it is nonetheless comforting to know that the depredations and demagoguery of Stephen Harper et al. are not being lost on the national
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