Archive » Letters
Harper’s anti-environment Bill C-51
March 3, 2015
To the Editor,
Harper has silenced scientists and others who speak up against climate change. He has called environmentalists terrorists. Now, he is trying to take advantage of our fear of terrorism by hiding clauses within Bill C-51. This would allow the surveillance and criminalization of peaceful Canadian citizens and have nothing to do with fighting terrorism.
According to Thomas Mulcair, Bill C-51 would give Canada’s spy agency (CSIS), new powers for surveillance of peaceful citizens and could place them on no-fly lists without their knowledge. They may be arrested and jailed without cause. With Bill C-51 Canadians could be targeted for protesting against pipelines, for speaking out against climate change, for assembling together in public without a permit or for disrupting economic activity. First Nations citizens would be targeted for surveillance and arrest for protesting the fracking, uranium mining or oil extraction which threaten their clean water supply.
In 2012, Harper passed Bill C-45 with similar hidden clauses. These clauses have removed all environmental protections from 99.99% of Canada’s lakes, rivers and waterways (making it legal for oil companies to spill oil and bitumen into our waterways).
Don’t let Harper use his dictatorial-style of changing legislation, to pass Bill C-51. This bill deserves full input from ALL federal parties for close scrutiny and crucial amendments. Say no to Harper.
Jackie Lewis
Bancroft
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