New documentary looks at controversial new anti-terror legislation
Prime Minister Stephen Harper is making one of his most controversial moves yet as he attempts to pass the infamous “anti-terror” bill, Bill C-51. Supporters tote the bill as a comprehensive and effective method for dealing with unprecedented security issues that come from a diverse and often polarised global community.
Focusing on preventing terrorism, rather than dealing with consequences, the bill gives power to “investigators” to intervene when there is reasonable belief that a suspect may commit an act of terror. Previous legislation has limited action to reasonable belief that a suspect will commit an act of terror.
The bill grants Canada’s Security Intelligence Services (CSIS) “disruptive” powers. The agency, which has previously merely spied on the general population, may now act on its suspicions. These actions are limited only by the disallowance of bodily harm, death, and violation of the suspect’s sexual integrity.
The bill’s critics – of which there are many – are concerned about these vaguely defined “powers,” as well as the broad description of the “threat of terrorism.” Some also express concern that, under this change, CSIS would be able to directly interfere with people’s lives and detain people in secret.
The bill also extends the number of days a suspect can be detained without trial from three to seven. Canada’s “no-fly” list will also be amended, with the public safety minister obtaining the power to add anyone they see fit to the list in a process substantially more secretive than before. Additionally, the bill allows for sharing of information on citizens between federal institutions to widen the scope of government intelligence. Information will be gathered on anyone deemed “anti-government,” which could include political and First Nations activists.
The bill has faced wide criticism, as some believe that it places security before civil liberties – and greatly restricts them by so doing.
The Secret Trial 5, a documentary by filmmaker Amar Wala, screened at the Bookshelf March 21. Through the eyes of four Canadian men, arrested and imprisoned for a combined 50 years without trial or presentation of the evidence against them, Wala shines a light on the governments existing “security certificate” regime. The “security certificate” targets immigrant populations and essentially allows for any ambiguously defined “suspect of terrorism” to be imprisoned on the basis of evidence they are never shown.
In the film, one of the men’s lawyers described the ludicrous nature of the situation: “Imagine that you’re charged with murder. You don’t know who you killed, where you killed them, and when you killed them – and you’re asked to defend yourself.” This is a reality for some citizens whose only crime seems to be identifying as Muslim and having gone to Afghanistan once.
The documentary brought home the human impact of legislation, often drowned out by a disassociation between everyday life and the long, tedious bills passed in the House of Commons. Throughout the documentary, Wala asked the audience to own up to this false separation and understand the drastic consequences such a mentality can have on society.
“Bill C-51 won’t affect the regular, apolitical, law-abiding Canadian,” said Wala in a Q&A session following the screening. “It will affect already marginalized social groups and political activists. Just because it doesn’t affect you, that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t care.”
The Secret Trial 5 highlights the disastrous ramifications of the government placing security before the rights and freedoms of its citizens: the potential for systematic racial and religious bias that should be of grave concern to every Canadian.