Demonstration to oppose Anti-terrorism Act

Sudburians will join a national day of action Saturday to oppose the federal government's Bill C-51, the Anti-terrorism Act.

Opponents have called the bill draconian, and say it would infringe on Canadians' constitutional and legal rights.

On Feb. 27, more than 100 Canadian professors of law and related professions signed an open letter to Prime Minister Stephen Harper regarding their significant concerns related to Bill C-51. The legal experts took issue with numerous aspects of the bill, including infringements on personal privacy, liberty and freedom of speech.

“Bill C-51 is the latest, in a string of sinister attacks on Canada’s democracy rammed down our throats by Harper's majority, with short-sighted politically-motivated support from Justin Trudeau’s Liberals,” said Darren Janeczek, CEO of the Nickel Belt Greens federal dlectoral district association, in a press release.

“Experts have expressed concerns that the Bill’s overly-broad definition of terrorism can be easily abused to attack Canadians engaged in legitimate civil disobedience activities.”

The Sudbury and Nickel Belt Greens plan to participate in Saturday's demonstration.

Green Party of Canada leader Elizabeth May, said in a press release that police already have the powers they need to protect Canadians from terrorism.

“The RCMP have powers to disrupt terrorist plots,” she said. “That’s how they broke the Toronto 18, the VIA rail plot and the ISIS sympathizers in Ottawa before they could move their plots into action. No one from the security establishment has made a case requiring expanded powers.”

The Sudbury event starts Saturday, March 14, at 1 p.m. outside the Sudbury Courthouse, located at 155 Elm St.