I think you have to understand that it's going to put a profound chill in any community that's going to feel that it's going to be targeted under the legislation. It's important to note that these provisions begin with our Muslim Canadian community, but they don't stop with the Muslim Canadian community. It's not just Muslim Canadians who are being messed up by the no-fly list, for example. It's not just Muslim Canadians who are being shaken down at airport terminals. These things are going to ultimately affect everyone. It starts with the Islamic community, but it won't end with the Islamic community.
For the very narrow utility that Professor Forcese brought out in talking of lowering the bar in terms of being able to address more vague security threats, because we are talking about lowering the bar.... We've done this before. This isn't that new. Japanese Canadians experienced what it was to have the bar lowered. You ask people then. The Government of Canada of the time had no doubt in their minds that this was a very reasonable, pre-emptive act to safeguard Canadian security. Ukrainian Canadians had the same experience in the World War before that.
This isn't new. In one form or another, we're heading down a path. I think it's only a matter of time before this kind of provision is similarly abused. In the meantime, it is going to interfere with people who will find out that it's better not to have an opinion on anything. You'll be safer. You'll steer clear of everything if you have no opinion. Having an opinion can only get you in trouble.
How is fostering that culture in Canadian society consistent with the values you want to promote in a free and democratic society?