Sask. lawyer backs Canadian Bar Association's anti-Bill C-51 stance
A Saskatchewan lawyer at the anti-Bill C-51 protest in Regina on Saturday said that he supports the Canadian Bar Association's (CBA) opposition to the controversial legislation.
Larry Kowalchuk said he sees the CBA's condemnation as a significant step forward for the movement against the bill.
"I think it's a historic moment for citizens to see the Canadian Bar Association, which has 36,000 lawyers in its membership, calling on citizens to come out today and protest against Bill C-51," Kowalchuk said.
Kowalchuk said he believes the bill has the potential to violate essential rights outlined in the Charter of Rights and Freedoms.
"The threat to the rule of law — it's not surprising lawyers are opposed," Kowalchuk said. "But it's a good thing that they are supporting people protesting against it and calling on people to do that."
Demonstrations were scheduled to take place across the country on Saturday as part of the latest day of action against the bill.
Representatives of the CBA appeared before the Standing Committee on Public Safety and National Security in March and expressed concerns about the bill, including the far-reaching nature of the legislation and a lack of oversight on new state powers.
"Promising public safety as an exchange for sacrificing individual liberties and democratic safeguards is not, in our view, justifiable. Nor is it realistic. Both are essential and complementary in a free and democratic society," states the CBA's submission to the committee.
There are many other vocal opponents to the anti-terror bill in Canada including NDP Leader Thomas Mulcair and B.C. Liberal Senator Mobina Jaffer.
The bill is currently working its way through the Senate.
Public Safety Minister Steven Blaney said on Monday at the Senate's national security committee that he is convinced the anti-terror legislation is necessary.
He said that there can be "no prosperity without security".
"We need to be as swift and fluid and adaptable as [terrorists] are," Blaney said. "We can not wait while terrorist plan their next strike."
