The world is a dangerous place and, as most brutally demonstrated by last October’s attacks in Ottawa and Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu, Canada is not immune to the threat of terrorism. That’s why Prime Minister Stephen Harper announced the Government will bring forward legislation to protect Canadians from the evolving threat of terrorism and help keep our communities safe.
The proposed legislation (Bill C-51, the Anti-terrorism Act, 2015) will provide Canadian law enforcement and national security agencies with additional tools and flexibility to keep pace with evolving threats and better protect Canadians here at home. Bill C-51 will help keep Canadians safe by creating a new Criminal Code offence that will criminalize the promotion of terrorist attacks on Canadians. This legislation will interfere with terrorist recruitment by giving our courts the authority to order the removal of terrorist propaganda online. The Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS) will be given the ability, under judicial authority, to intervene to prevent specific terror plots while they are still in the planning stages.
As the Government, we recognize that the highest responsibility of our Government is to help keep Canadians safe and our country secure. We must make it easier for law enforcement agencies to detain suspected terrorists before they can harm Canadians and toughen penalties for violating court ordered conditions on terror suspects. We are even providing witnesses who are willing to come forward with crucial evidence additional protection in national security proceedings and prosecutions.
The international jihadist movement has declared war on Canada. Canadians are being targeted by jihadi terrorists simply because they hate our society and the values it represents. That’s why our Government has never hesitated to call jihadi terrorism what it is. Just as we are not afraid to condemn it, we are not afraid to confront it. Jihadi terrorism is not a future possibility; it is a present reality.
This new legislation will give our law enforcement and national security agencies the tools they need to protect Canadians against the ever evolving threat of jihadi terrorism.
Bill C-51 provides federal departments and agencies the ability to share relevant information and this strengthens the Passenger Protect Program which prevents known terrorists from travelling. As well, the legislation ensures national security agencies are able to prevent foreigners who pose a threat to Canada from obtaining Canadian citizenship, or from even coming to Canada.
Jihadi terrorism is not a human right; it is an act of war. As your Member of Parliament, I will vote in support of our Government taking these pro-active measures against future would-be terrorists. Bill C-51 strengthens and protects the rights of Canadians against jihadi terrorists.
