Kent Roach & Craig Forcese: Press the reset button on security

The ongoing work of Professors Kent Roach and Craig Forcese on C-51 provides the most exhaustive analysis of the bill and is a must-read for anyone concerned with the issue. Article by Kent Roach and Craig Forcese for the National Post Security issues are a campaign issue — at least we think they are. To date, little has actually been said on the topic, and what has been said amounts to the parties doubling down on entrenched and vague (even symbolic) positions.

Since its introduction in an election-style rally in January, the Conservatives have sought to use their anti-terrorism law, Bill C-51, and security more generally, to corner and typecast their opponents. Their vision amounts simply to turning the ratchet of hard-nosed laws tighter.

The Liberals seem to have charted an uncertain course in response, with indefinite references to parliamentary “oversight.” And the NDP is trying to use Liberal support for the bill C-51 as a wedge issue. Like the NDP, the Greens have promised to close the door on that law.

The problem is, however, that our anti-terrorism dilemmas are more acute than “C-51 good; C-51 bad.” To be sure, we believe strongly that it is bad. It infringes the Charter rights of Canadians without appreciable security gains.

- Read more at the National Post