Rosane Doré Lefebvre

[Public Safety, April 1st, 2015]

Mr. Speaker, the Conservatives did everything they could to limit debate on Bill C-51. In the end they did what they wanted and only passed their own amendments.

That is not going to solve the problems with Bill C-51, especially the issue of oversight. In its Report on Plans and Priorities, the Security Intelligence Review Committee states that at this time it is unable to review most of CSIS's activities. That is very serious.

Why are the Conservatives refusing to face the truth and withdraw Bill C-51?

[Public Safety, March 31st, 2015]

Mr. Speaker, most of the witnesses that we heard from, including those called by the government, confirmed what we have been saying from the beginning.

Bill C-51 is a botched bill. It does not include any kind of oversight mechanism and it jeopardizes our rights and freedoms. From the outset, the Conservative government has been turning a deaf ear, and its stubbornness could undermine the freedoms of Canadians.

Will the minister finally do the right thing and withdraw his bill?

[Public Safety, March 30th, 2015]

Mr. Speaker, 45 of the 48 witnesses who appeared before the committee proposed amending the bill or scrapping it altogether and going back to the drawing board. I truly hope that the Conservatives have decided to do the right thing and support the NDP's amendments.

Intelligence agencies are producing more and more investigation reports. The Government Operations Centre received reports on more than 160 lawful events and demonstrations between May 2014 and February 2015. Virtually none of those activities presented a potential risk to national security. Bill C-51 will not help matters.

Why is the minister wasting taxpayers' money to monitor the activities of groups that pose no risk to national security?

[Public Safety, March 30th, 2015]

Mr. Speaker, the Conservatives' Bill C-51 reveals their obsession with spying, particularly on activists who do not subscribe to their ideology.

Veterans' groups, first nations associations and doctors campaigning for care for refugees have been spied on by this government on the pretext that they are threats to national security. Bill C-51 will make that even easier for the Conservatives.

Why would the minister want to spy on Canadians involved in legal activities?

[Public Safety, March 27th, 2015]

Mr. Speaker, yesterday we concluded a marathon in committee, after hearing some very important testimony on Bill C-51.

Forty-five of the 48 witnesses we heard asked us either to amend the bill or to go back to the drawing board. Now is the time to act responsibly in the face of terrorism and radicalization.

Will the minister listen to the concerns experts expressed about Bill C-51 and will he make the necessary major changes to his bill?

[Public Safety, March 26th, 2015]

Mr. Speaker, I would like to talk about the witnesses who appeared before the Standing Committee on Public Safety and National Security to oppose Bill C-51.

The Canadian Bar Association criticized the new, almost unlimited powers to disrupt that would be given to CSIS.

The association said:

It is untenable that the infringement of Charter rights is open to debate, in secret proceedings where only the government is represented.

Why is the Conservative government so determined to pass its flawed bill that waters down our fundamental values?

[Public Safety, March 26th, 2015]

Mr. Speaker, I am not sure if we are talking about the same meetings of the Standing Committee on Public Safety and National Security, but as for witnesses supporting Bill C-51, give me a break.

Yesterday in committee, we heard others criticizing Bill C-51 for being too broad in scope and lacking oversight provisions for intelligence agencies. The Canadian Civil Liberties Association was clear: a significant part of Bill C-51 is unconstitutional and would infringe upon our basic rights.

Does the minister realize that this ill-conceived bill will violate Canadians' rights and freedoms?

[Public Safety, March 26th, 2015]

Mr. Speaker, Canadians have heard from many groups and experts across the country, and they are getting more and more worried about the scope of Bill C-51. The Conservatives are wrong to reject serious criticism of their bill.

That is why the NDP will move a motion to broaden the debate. We want to talk about a counter-radicalization strategy and better oversight mechanisms for intelligence agencies.

Will this government support our motion?

[Public Safety, March 25th, 2015]

Mr. Speaker, police officers are not the only ones concerned about the consequences of Bill C-51.

The Government of Quebec has denounced the fact that Bill C-51 will give the Canadian Security Intelligence Service:

...such vast powers, including the possibility to take certain actions that violate the Charter....

The Conservative majority on the committee refused to allow ministers from Quebec to appear.

Why is the government refusing to hear from those who will have to enforce this deeply flawed legislation?

[Public Safety, March 25th, 2015]

Mr. Speaker, in committee yesterday, more expert witnesses criticized Bill C-51.

Scott Tod, the Ontario Provincial Police's top anti-terrorism official, cautioned the government. Bill C-51 will give the police force more responsibilities but will not provide additional resources. The police force will therefore have to reallocate resources currently being used to combat organized crime.

What is the minister's plan for making sure that our police officers can continue to do their jobs well?