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Urgent Action
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In response to the tragic events of September 11, 2001, the Government of Canada quickly introduced anti-terrorism legislation as part of its “security agenda”. In December of 2001, Bill C-36 (The Anti-Terrorism Act) was adopted, which later proved to threaten civil liberties, decrease privacy, and justify the targeting of Arabs and Muslims as “terrorists”. Currently, the Senate is debating an additional piece of anti-terrorism legislation for adoption.
The Public Safety Act (Bill C-7, previously known as Bill C-17) will amend several other laws, and will further threaten civil liberties and human rights in Canada. The Act threatens to erode the right to privacy for Canadians, and it calls for the increased sharing of personal data (including passenger information) between law enforcers, intelligence agencies, security authorities, and governments.
Bill C-7 has not been through an extensive public debate, nor has it been examined in the context of existing anti-terrorism legislation. We believe that Bill C-7 requires a thorough examination in the broader context of Canada’s anti-terrorism agenda. Bill C-7 will return to the Senate for a final vote as early as March 25. We are calling upon the Senate to postpone adoption of this Bill until a full review of existing legislation has taken place to ensure that it does not infringe further upon human rights, and after the results of the Maher Arar inquiry are made public.
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Action Required |
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Please send the following letter (augmented if possible with a personal message of concern) to the Senators representing your province (and others if you wish), and copy Paul Martin, Prime Minister of Canada. Find a list of Senators here: http://www.parl.gc.ca/common/senmemb/senate/isenator.asp?sortord=P&Language=E
Ideally, messages should signed and faxed to individual Senators, although you can email Senators if necessary. Letters should be sent before March 25.
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Sample Letter |
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March 19, 2004
Senator _____
House of Commons
Ottawa, Ontario
K1A 0A6
Re: Bill C-7 the Public Safety Act
Dear Senator ___,
I am writing to express my concerns with Bill C-7, the Public Safety Act. I am deeply concerned about the impact of this anti-terrorism legislation on civil liberties and human rights in Canada.
Legislation that was adopted in December 2001 as part of Canada’s security agenda (Bill C-36, The Anti-Terrorism Act) later proved to threaten civil liberties, decrease privacy, and justify the targeting of Arabs and Muslims as “terrorists”. I am concerned that the legislation currently being debated (Bill C-7, The Public Safety Act) will further threaten civil liberties and human rights – things Canadians have always viewed as fundamental. I am also concerned that while The Public Safety Act (Bill C-7) will amend several other existing laws, the Act has not been through an extensive public debate, nor has it been examined in the context of existing anti-terrorism legislation.
Bill C-7 allows for increased collection and sharing of personal data (including passenger information) between law enforcers, intelligence agencies, security authorities, and governments. This provision threatens to erode the privacy rights for all. I am concerned that Bill C-7 is too broad in scope, and that information collected under this Act may be used for other purposes that go far beyond national security and that are not strictly limited to anti-terrorism.
I have additional concerns about the provision in the Act that allows Ministers to use “interim orders” outside the light of Parliamentary and public scrutiny. This seems at odds with our democratic legislative process. I am also worried about the lack of a parliamentary oversight mechanism over operational use of expanded police powers pertaining to the collection and sharing of personal information.
I recognize the importance of public safety; however, it should not take precedence over individual rights and freedoms. I strongly believe that no new legislation should be adopted, especially not Bill C-7, until a thorough review of existing legislation has taken place, until the results of the Public Inquiry in the Maher Arar case are made public, and until the implications of information sharing and integration of personal databases are fully understood by parliamentarians, policy makers and Canadians at large. The upcoming three-year anniversary of the existing Anti-Terrorism Act (Bill C-36) could provide such an opportunity for this extensive review.
I anticipate your response to my concerns.
Sincerely,
cc: Right Honourable Paul Martin, Prime Minister of Canada
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