Yes, my colleague from Dewdney--Alouette points out that even a number of backbench Liberal members have raised some of these concerns. Yet the government brought in time allocation, the heavy hammer of closure on this bill.
I can only imagine how nervous they are. If Canadians are not, they should well be nervous about the type of procedure that has been brought in on a bill that is known widely now. This is in part thanks to the efforts that have been made by my colleague from Pictou--Antigonish--Guysborough, the House leader of the coalition, to raise these issues of concern about the democratic rights, their infringement and the possibility that this will impose upon Canadians. It is incredible.
I will talk about one specific issue before I bring my comments to a close on this group. I raised this with the minister and I was going to raise it again this morning had I had the opportunity during the half-hour of debate on the time allocation motion. It has to do with the list of supposed terrorists that would be drawn up and the fact that to get their names off the list they would have 60 days to call upon the solicitor general to make a decision as to whether their names should or should not have been on the list. If the solicitor general decides that their name should have been on the list or if he makes no decision at all and the 60 days expire, then individuals would only have recourse through the courts.
If people are wrongfully accused and their names appear on the terrorist list and their assets are frozen, how would it be possible for those individuals to obtain the monetary means to actually receive their day in court? It is something that should be considered by a government that is intent on ramming a bill of this importance through with closure and with time allocation, a bill about which clearly people have concerns about the possible infringements on civil liberties and freedoms that Canadians hold near and dear. The government is using a very undemocratic method. If there were ever a piece of legislation that should not have resulted in closure or time allocation, surely to goodness this is the bill.
I wanted to raise that issue while I had the opportunity in debate. I only wish the Minister of Justice listened as attentively to the concerns of the opposition on this bill. Just because we have raised concerns and have brought forward a number of amendments does not mean we do not support the general thrust of the legislation. Certainly we want our law enforcement agencies, border and perimeter security to be as strong as possible to protect Canadians and Canadian society. There is no question of that. Regardless of party, all parliamentarians want that.
By suggesting that somehow we are stalling because we are trying to improve yet another clearly flawed bill before it becomes law and gets challenged in court, then clearly the government is not listening. The minister is not listening to Canadians and parliamentarians, even those from her own backbenches.