I sent in a letter from one of the other posters here to the local MP. This is what I sent him. As a voting citizen living in your riding, I have written to you to bring attention to my wavering vote. C-51 is a new bill currently being introduced by Stephen Harper and the Conservatives. Myself, citizens, and past Prime Ministers all vehemently disagree with said initiative.
Our primary concern with the bill is the revocation of rights instated by the Canadian government, similar to the PATRIOT Act passed by former President George W. Bush in 2001. Among those revoked rights are allowing Canadian Security Intelligence Services (CSIS) agents to conduct warrantless operations to reduce threats to the security of Canada, as well as authorizing judges to grant threat disruption warrants to CSIS agents in cases where disruption methods would break the law or even violate our Charter of Rights and Freedoms. This sort of bill is unacceptable.
The [Liberal or Conservative] Party of Canada has confirmed its backing of the bill C-51, and as such I will not vote for the [Liberal or Conservative] party nor the representative within my riding. As one of your constituents, I strongly encourage a firm position on the failure of this bill to pass. Thank you for your time and consideration.
This was the response from John Weston, M.P.
Thank you for writing. The new law would bring about at least 3 changes designed to increase the security of Canadians in a world which has just seen the attacks in France, Australia, Belgium, and, of course, here at home, in St. Jean Sur Richelieu and Ottawa.
A government’s most important duty is to ensure its people’s security. That is the paramount intention of Bill C-51. The Bill specifically attempts to prevent terrorist travel, disrupt planned attacks on Canadian soil, and criminalize the incitement of terrorism. The Bill also expands the powers of Canadian Security Intelligence Service to allow it to "disrupt" suspected terrorist threats. The proposed legislation includes checks and balances to ensure it respects the rights of Canadians.
A recent poll by the Angus Reid Institute found that support for the Bill is staggering: 82% of Canadians support it, with one third saying it doesn’t go far enough to protect Canadians. I invite you to read the Institute’s findings at the link below:
Like most Canadians, I believe in the protection of our freedoms and liberties, a belief that ties in to our common-law protections going back to the Magna Carta, and what motivated Canadians to fight in two World Wars. This belief motivated me with others to create the Canadian Constitution Foundation, to stand up for individuals whose rights are menaced by overreaching governments.
But who stands for the right of anyone to promote terrorism?
Meanwhile, the Charter, our courts, and organizations like the Canadian Constitution Foundation are all there to prevent governments from using anti-sedition laws merely as tools to put down political opposition.
Surely, knowing what we know about the metastasizing of terrorism, we have to take measures to stop the violence before it starts. In a world in which violent enemies are constantly changing, our government needs to be nimble, to adapt our laws in response to evolving challenges.
Bill C-51 tries to arrive at a correct balance. Meanwhile, the healthy debate will always pit security against individual liberties to a certain extent. But, in a sense, there is no conflict; the two objectives – security and freedom – are co-dependent. Without one, we cannot have the other.
Thank you again for taking the time to write. Please have a look at my website, www.johnweston.cahttp://www.johnweston.ca/, which was, in December 2013 and again in December 2014, ranked one of the best overall websites for Parliamentarians by Samara, an independent organization. My website tracks initiatives in which I am involved and lists some upcoming events. Should you want to receive the E – news on a regular basis, please enter your email address under “Sign up for John’s digital news” found on the right hand side of the webpage. Signing up for the E-news is the only way to receive such digital information from me on a regular basis!
With best regards,
John Weston, M.P. West Vancouver – Sunshine Coast – Sea to Sky Country