Thank you.
Just to finish off before asking my questions, the arrestee must be taken before a provincial court judge, as I mentioned, within 24 hours, at which point the judge can extend the detention for up to 48 hours. The Attorney General must then consent, and then a judge must agree within 24 hours. The hearing will be within 48 hours of that detention. At these hearings the crown will have to demonstrate that the case is progressing toward a criminal charge.
So we have a peace officer with evidentiary threshold; the Attorney General, represented by crown prosecutors; the judicial oversight. Keep in mind that we're trying to save lives in an emergency situation. That sounds like a fair process to me.
Is there any degree of checks and balances that would satisfy you? Are you simply fundamentally opposed to taking terrorists off the street?
Let me just quote one thing before you answer that. Mr. John Russell, a prior vice-president of the Civil Liberties Association, has stated:
...the government's proposed definition of “terrorist activity” is simply too broad. As it stands, proposed item 83.01.(1)(b)(ii)(E) of this definition would count as “terrorist activity” any unlawful politically motivated act that threatened to significantly disrupt an essential service.
He goes on to say:
...it would potentially brand as terrorists doctors, teachers, and nurses who threaten to strike or withhold services in the face of provincial orders deeming their work an essential service. It could also brand as terrorist the actions of first nations individuals who blockade an airport or a highway.
Are you fundamentally opposed to taking terrorists off the streets?