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Législation antiterroriste
Anti-terror legislation
ICLMG 29/06/2015 - When Bill C-51, the Anti-terrorism Act 2015, was tabled in Parliament this spring, Canada's leading human rights organizations called for the Bill to be withdrawn. The International Civil Liberties Monitoring Group Amnesty International, the British Columbia Civil Liberties Association, the Canadian Civil Liberties Association, the Canadian Muslim Lawyers Association, La Ligue des Droits et Libertés and the National Council of Canadian Muslims have stated from the outset that the serious human rights shortcomings in Bill C-51 are so numerous and inseparably interrelated that the Bill should be withdrawn in its entirety. We believe that any national security law reform should  instead, first, be convincingly demonstrated to be necessary and should then proceed only in a manner that is wholly consistent with the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms and the country's international human rights obligations. Disappointingly, Bill C-51 has passed and is poised to become law. But the fight isn't over yet. Too much is at stake. Over the past few months, we saw public concern and opposition to Bill C-51 grow as Canadians learned more about the Bill and the threat it poses to fundamental rights and freedoms. Now that it has passed, if we are to see the Anti-terrorism Act 2015 repealed, it is crucial that Canadians continue to have conversations in the months to come about security, human rights, and basic freedoms - with each other and with those seeking office in the fall's federal election.
Baloney meter: With new powers, is CSIS simply catching up to allies?
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Information sharing
Partage d'informations
The Toronto Star 02/07/2015 - A secret deal between Canada's spies and border guards proposed more information sharing and joint operations without the need for political sign-off, the Star has learned. A 2014 deal between the Canadian Security Intelligence Service and the Canada Border Services Agency proposed the two agencies be allowed to share information and resources without the prior approval of their political masters. "The Framework (Memorandum of Understanding) will also authorize (CSIS) to enter into more specific arrangements with CBSA, as required, without the necessity to seek  your approval each time," wrote CSIS director Michel Coulombe in a memo explaining the deal to Public Safety Minister Steven Blaney. Blaney's office won't say whether or not the deal has been approved. The deal, obtained under access to information law, would permit the two agencies to share "investigative techniques, the provision of equipment, the sharing of information, resources or personnel" to assist one another to meet shared objectives. CSIS is allowed to enter into agreements with other departments and agencies, including foreign partners, and routinely does. But the rules governing the spy agency state that CSIS needs the express permission from the public safety minister to do so. But Coulombe explicitly stated that, under the new deal, Blaney's approval would not be required for further co-operation between the two agencies. Read more - Lire plus
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Oversight of security agencies
Surveillance des agences de sécurité
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Citizenship
Citoyenneté
The National Post 01/07/2015 - The government has begun the process of revoking the citizenship of an Iranian-Canadian serving a prison sentence in Edmonton for terrorism, according to sources familiar with the case. Hiva Alizadeh is the first Canadian to be targeted by a law that allows Ottawa to strip the citizenship from Canadians convicted of terrorist offences, provided they are citizens elsewhere. The legislation came into force on May 29. As a citizen of both Canada and Iran, Alizadeh appears to be a  viable candidate. Should his Canadian citizenship be revoked, he would be deported. Under the new system, Alizadeh has 60 days to respond to the written notice he has received from the government, which depicts the law as a response to the evolving terrorist threat to Canada. [...] Both opposition parties opposed the bill, which critics say creates two-tiered citizenship because it treats those who have acquired it through naturalization differently that those born in Canada. Read more - Lire plus Coalition backs away from revoking citizenship from terrorism suspects in Australia
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Canada and the United Nations
Canada et les Nations Unies
CBC News 08/07/2015 - Tuesday was the Canadian government's first opportunity to address the UN Human Rights Committee in Geneva, which is conducting the first review in 10 years of Canada's compliance to a major international treaty. The committee asked Canada to provide answers to 24 separate questions about how it implements the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights - including how it monitors the human rights conduct of Canadian resource companies operating abroad, some of which face lawsuits alleging abuses. [...] The committee also asked Canada to address a number of other areas that have sparked  controversy, including: 1. what measures had been taken to compensate Abdullah Almalki, Ahmed El-Maati and Muayyed Nureddin, who were tortured in Syrian prisons after Canadian officials were found partly to blame for sharing information about them; 2. whether the government planned to reverse cuts to health services for refugee claimants, and "respond to allegations that such cuts may undermine their rights to life and freedom from ill-treatment."; 3. asking the government to comment on allegations that it has taken punitive measures to limit the freedom of expression of "civil society organizations and human rights defenders that promote women's equality, the rights of Palestinians, and environmental protection and corporate social responsibility..." Read more - Lire plus
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Primauté du droit
Rule of law
CTV News 15/06/2015 - Newly released court documents allege the Conservative government pressured RCMP bureaucrats to purge long-gun registry data, even while assuring the Information Commissioner they would follow a law requiring the preservation of records. An affidavit filed by Information Commissioner Suzanne Legault includes emails she wrote to then-Public Safety Minister Vic Toews on April 13, 2012, after the Ending the Long-gun Registry Act passed in the Senate. Legault  wrote that, although the new law gave the Commissioner of Firearms the responsibility of ensuring all of the Canadian Firearms Registry records be destroyed as soon as possible, the Access to Information Act required such records be saved once requested. [...] Toews wrote back on May 2: "With respect to your question on destruction of records in the CFIS, please be assured that the RCMP will abide by the right of access described in section 4 of the Act and its obligations in that regard." Around that time, the destruction process appears to have sped up. Read more - Lire plus
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Autres nouvelles - More news
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Islamophobie
Islamophobia
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Surveillance globale
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Politics and terrorism
Politiques et terrorisme
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Press freedom
Liberté de la presse
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Privacy
Vie privée
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Réflexions sur la guerre au terrorisme
Reflections on the war on terror
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Réflexions sur le terrorisme
Reflections on terrorism
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Surveillance
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Action
New: Join the great Canadian petition drive to kill Bill C-51 and win prizes!
OpenMedia - If we want to get Bill C-51 repealed, we need to add as many voices as we can so our message can be heard far and wide. So to provide a little extra incentive to help us reach 300,000 signatures,  we've put together some pretty great prizes for those who help us reach the most people. Join the Great Canadian Petition Drive to Kill C-51 now with the chance to win an awesome pro-privacy prize pack! Are you ready to beat Margaret Atwood?
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Action
Sign the Declaration of the Voices-Voix Coalition
Voices-Voix Coalition - United, we call upon the Government of Canada to: 1. Respect the right to freedom of opinion and expression; 2. Act in accordance with Canada's democratic traditions and values; 3. Be transparent.  Both individuals and organizations can endorse the declaration.
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Action
Signez la pétition pour libérer le blogueur saoudien Raif Badawi
 Amnistie internationale - Raif Badawi, prisonnier d'opinion en Arabie saoudite, risque la mort pour avoir offert un débat sur la liberté religieuse. Exigeons des autorités saoudiennes que les coups de fouet cessent immédiatement, que Raif soit libéré sans condition, et qu'il soit réuni avec sa famille réfugiée au Canada. Exigeons de cet État qu'il respecte ses obligations en matière de droits humains et qu'il abolisse la flagellation.  English petition
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Action
UAE: Free Canadian citizen Salim Alaradi!
Free Salim Alaradi Campaign - We urge the United Arab Emirates to stop the torture and unconditionally and immediately release Canadian citizen Salim Alaradi, who has been detained for over 285 days without charge.  Please sign the petition and share widely!
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Action
Campaign to oppose the criminalization of BDS in Canada
CJPME - Many in Canada were horrified by the CBC article earlier this month which suggested that Canada's Harper government may legally prosecute Boycott-Israel activists using "hate crime" laws. The boycott of Israel has  nothing to do with "hate," and such action would violate Canadians' fundamental rights of freedom of expression and individual liberty. Using the form below, please write to your MP, and let him/her know of your opposition to such action by the government.
N.B.: Make sure to also oppose Bill C-51: A person supporting the BDS movement could be prosecuted under C-51 since it criminalizes actions that threaten the national security of Canada AND of other countries, and defines national security in a dangerously broad way as including economic interests and financial stability.
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Action
Canada: Prevent torture in detention centres around the world
Amnesty International - Thirty years ago, the international community agreed to ban torture and adopted the Convention against Torture. Yet in recent years, the practice remains widespread as governments justify any means to combat security threats and organized crime or simply suppress dissent. Key safeguards that would reduce and prevent the use of torture remain unimplemented.  Send a message to Canada's Minister for Foreign Affairs, Rob Nicholson, calling on him to ensure Canada fully commits to ending the use of torture around the world.
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Action
UnfollowMe: Tell governments to ban mass surveillance
Amnesty International Canada - Governments are snooping on everything we do online. State intelligence and security agencies are using mass surveillance to collect our private emails, calls, internet searches, contact lists, phone locations, webcam images and more.  Sign our petition today, and call on Canada, the USA, UK, Australia and New Zealand - to end indiscriminate mass surveillance today.
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Action
Tell the U.S. government to free Slahi
ACLU - Tell the Secretary of Defense: Mohamedou Slahi is being held indefinitely despite his innocence. His ongoing imprisonment is unlawful, as was the torture he survived. I'm asking you not to contest Slahi's habeas case. Please release Mohamedou Slahi without delay.
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Les opinions exprimées ne reflètent pas nécessairement les positions de la CSILC - The views expressed do not necessarily reflect the positions of ICLMG
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The News Digest is ICLMG's weekly publication of news articles, events, calls to action and much more regarding national security, anti-terrorism, and civil liberties. The ICLMG is a national coalition of thirty-eight Canadian civil society organizations that was established in the aftermath of the September, 2001 terrorist attacks in the United States. +++
La revue de l'actualité est notre publication hebdomadaire de nouvelles, d'évènements, d'appels à l'action, et beaucoup plus, entourant la sécurité nationale, la lutte au terrorisme, et les libertés civiles. La CSILC est une coalition nationale de 38 organisations de la société civile canadienne qui a été créée suite aux attentats terroristes de septembre 2001 aux États-Unis.
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powers - which have since received royal assent - as a means of bringing the spy service's capabilities in line with those of allied counterparts. How accurate were the government's claims? Spoiler Alert: The Canadian Press Baloney Meter is a dispassionate examination of political statements culminating in a ranking of accuracy on a scale of "no baloney" to "full of baloney" (complete methodology below). This one earns a rating of "a lot of baloney." Here's why.
CSIS director Michel Coulombe under the Access to Information Act. [...] Redactions make it difficult to fully understand the records, said Keith Stewart, an energy campaigner with Greenpeace Canada. But it appears that the Harper government gave CSIS even more than it was asking for when the omnibus security bill greatly expanded the range of information that could be shared, he said. "This reinforces the arguments of those who say that this bill is really a form of crass electioneering that sacrifices our rights and freedoms without making us any safer." The government still hasn't made a case for dismantling barriers to information-sharing, said Carmen Cheung, senior counsel at the B.C. Civil Liberties Association.
