Working group approaches two years of weekly Bill C-51 protests
Posted February 25, 2017 5:18 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
VANCOUVER (NEWS 1130) – Just over two years ago, the biggest news story in the country was federal Bill C-51, which granted sweeping new powers to Canada’s police and intelligence agencies in the name of combating terrorism.
While the issue may have drifted from the public consciousness, a small group of activists have not stopped working to oppose what is now the Anti-terrorism Act of 2015.
The Working Group to Stop Bill C-51 has held weekly consecutive actions for nearly two years, usually in the form of rallies at different Metro Vancouver Skytrain stations.
Today, the group gathered at Jack Poole Plaza for a national day of action, organized by Canadian Journalists for Free Expression (CJFE).
“A lot of people have not heard about it, but once they stop and they talk to us and they know what Bill C-51 is, majority people sign the petition and say ‘I didn’t even know that was happening,'” says Azzar Rojbi with the working group.
Rojbi and other critics argue the law gives the RCMP and CSIS free reign to engage in mass surveillance, target activists and journalists, and suppress freedom of speech and freedom of assembly.
She adds that while it’s considered the work of the Harper administration, Justin Trudeau’s Liberals voted for the bill, and have not scaled it back with their majority government.
“Justin Trudeau had more than one year now, and you know, the promises are disappearing one after one.”
The group’s 104th consecutive action against Bill C-51 is planned for March 6th at the Vancouver City Hall Skytrain Station.
