Think again. The RCMP has labelled the “anti-petroleum” movement as a growing and violent threat to Canada’s security, raising fears among environmentalists that they face increased surveillance, and possibly worse, under the Harper government’s new terrorism legislation. In highly charged language that reflects the government’s hostility toward environmental activists, an
Continue readingTag: Bill C 51
Montreal Simon: The Harper Regime and the Terrorist Game
Even by the low standards of Peter Dumbo MacKay, I thought it was bizarre when he claimed that a plot to commit a mass slaughter in Halifax was not linked to terrorism. "What I can tell you is that this appeared to be a group of murderous misfits that were coming
Continue readingCowichan Conversations: Rafe Mair-How Quickly Politics of Fear Could Transform Canada
Richard Hughes-Political Blogger We are indeed at a crossroads in Canada as we face a clever and devious PM Steve Harper who has spooked both Liberal leader Justin Trudeau and NDP leader and opposition leader Thomas Mulcair. Bill C 51 is a bone chilling attack on our rights and freedoms.
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: More On The Dangers of Bill C-51
Well, leave it to The Star’s redoubtable readers to remind us of the peril implicit in Bill C-51, Stephen Harper’s anti-terrorist bill designed to make us all ‘safer’ and in a constant state of paranoia. Here is but a small sampling of their sentiments: I called the Prime Minister’s office
Continue readingCowichan Conversations: Ed Broadbent and Roy Romanow Call For Strong Opposition To Anti Terror Bill–Mulcair Had Better Listen Up
Richard Hughes-Political Blogger In recent posts on ‘Cowichan Conversations’ and on ‘Facebook and Twitter’ I have been critical of the Federal NDP’s failure to take the gloves off and go after Harper over his so called anti terror measures that would strip away civil liberties and turn CSIS into a secret police
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: A Definitive Rejection Of Bill C-51
It is only human nature, I suppose, that when crisis strikes, our immediate reaction is that we would do almost anything to protect ourselves and our loved ones. When Pierre Trudeau invoked the War Measure Act in 1970 as a response to the FLQ crisis, the vast majority went along
Continue readingCowichan Conversations: Bill C-51–Trudeau Liberals and Mulcair New Democrats Put Party First-Canada Second
Richard Hub Hughes-Political Blogger I am a life long New Democrat and I am appalled at the ‘weak as water’ positioning that the Thomas Mulcair led NDP have offered in regard to the Harper anti terror Bill C 51, a bill that will, if passed, turn Canada into a CSIS Police
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: Well-Said!
H/t OpenMedia.ca Recommend this Post
Continue readingCowichan Conversations: Ewart-Dangerous new powers for federal government? – Part 1
Richard Hughes-Political Blogger Most Canadians have heard something about the new so called ‘Anti Terror’ legislation Bill C 51 but what we have failed to hear is opposition political leaders, excepting Elizabeth May, speaking up and effectively challenging this unprecedented attack on the rights and freedoms of Canadians. Elizabeth May rings
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: What, Me Worry?
H/t The Toronto Star According to Star readers, there is plenty that could go wrong. Here is but a sampling of their concerns: In his anti-terrorism speech, Stephen Harper said: “Over the last few years a great evil has been descending upon our world … Canadians are targeted by these
Continue readingCowichan Conversations: Even the Globe and Mail is Alarmed Over Harper’s Surveillance-Anti Terror Bill C-51
Richard Hughes-Political Blogger The Liberal and NDP response to PM Stephen Harper’s far reaching attempt to decimate Canada’s civil rights and privacy laws left a lot to be desired. Justin Trudeau rolled over in support and showed us up close that he has a long way to go before he is ready to assume
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: More On Our Opposition Leaders
Two posts I recently wrote were highly critical of both Justin Trudeau and Thomas Mulcair for their apparent embrace, for political purposes, of Bill C-51, the bill that will serve only to further erode our civil liberties in the chimerical hope of containing terrorists threats to Canada. I expressed my
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: On Profound Timidity
H/t The Toronto Star Yesterday’s post dealt with the profound reluctance of Messieurs Trudeau and Mulcair to oppose Harper’s latest incursion into our civil rights, Bill C-51, lest they be accused of being ‘soft on terrorism’ (“Oh, the horror!”). Better, in their minds, to betray the interests of Canadians than
Continue readingCowichan Conversations: Weak-kneed opposition lets Conservative terror bill sail through: Walkom
Justin Trudeau Chokes on Anti Terror Bill C 51 By: Thomas Walkom National Affairs, Published on Tue Feb 03 2015 When Prime Minister Stephen Harper unveiled his new anti-terror bill last week, Canada’s two main opposition parties were loath to criticize it. Both New Democratic Party Leader Tom Mulcair and Liberal chieftain Justin Trudeau
Continue readingMontreal Simon: Justin Trudeau and Stephen Harper’s Terror Trap
It's a bitter pill to swallow. Stephen Harper's anti-terrorist Bill C-51 is deeply flawed, threatens our civil liberties and our internet freedom.But if progressives don't want to risk handing Harper another bloody majority what Justin Trudeau said today was the way to play it. Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau says his caucus
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: The Illusion Of Choice
I know that I am but one of millions who long for the day the Harper regime is electorally deposed. That day cannot come soon enough. Yet, along with countless others, I am also aware that merely electing a Liberal or NDP government may only mean a change in style,
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: A Timely Warning From Edward Snowden
But will anyone listen? Edward Snowden, the man wanted for leaking U.S. security documents in 2013 says Canadians should be “extraordinarily cautious” in reference to an anti-terror bill proposed by the Harper government. Snowden and journalist Glenn Greenwald spoke to a group of Toronto students Monday evening. Recommend this Post
Continue readingNorthern Reflections: No Great Man
Stephen Harper is a champion of disaster democracy. Michael Harris writes: Disaster democracy needs just three things; an atrocious event, a political leader sufficiently cynical not to let any catastrophe go to waste, and a public mindset willing to exchange liberties for the illusion of safety. The great benefit of
Continue readingThe Canadian Progressive: Harper’s Orwellian Anti-Terror Bill C-51 Troubles Privacy Czar
The Privacy Commissioner of Canada warns that Bill C-51, Harper’s proposed new anti-terrorism legislation, would further erode Canadians’ privacy rights. The post Harper’s Orwellian Anti-Terror Bill C-51 Troubles Privacy Czar appeared first on The Canadian Progressive.
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: Herr Harper Is At It Again, But The Media Revolt
H/t Kat McNamara The Harper-led assault on our rights as Canadians continues, this time under the guise of Bill C-51, the new Anti-Terrorism Act. And finally, the media showed some resistance. Reporters in Ottawa became surly quickly Friday when it was discovered the government lock-up they attended for a briefing
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