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Balancing freedom and security

Bill C-51 excessively empowers law enforcement and, consequently, this will cause corruption

My political science class is to blame for my recently peaked interest in Bill C-51, and I wish to provide a 19-year-old’s perspective on the topic.

In an ideal world, Bill C-51 would help prevent terrorist attacks and guarantee the safety and rights of every Canadian citizen. However, in reality, this will not be the case. People are tempted by power, even law enforcement officers. Bill C-51 excessively empowers law enforcement and, consequently, this will cause corruption.

For example, law enforcement officers would be allowed to search and arrest ‘suspicious’ people without actual evidence. It is obvious that having this ability would improve the efficiency of protecting Canada. However, there will always be corrupt officers. And allowing corrupt officers access to that much power is an open invitation to a catastrophic downward spiral of our country. Besides, terrorism seems to be fairly rare in Canada, so why the need of this new bill?

Bill C-51 is far too ambiguous. It refers to “[CSIS being able] to take measures, within or outside Canada, [in order] to reduce threats to the security of Canada.” Please – for the love of God – elaborate. What is deemed as a threat? For all we know, CSIS could find the way you breathe a threat. It is our responsibility, as a society, to create a thought-out, balanced law; one with equal freedom and security.

Leah Nelson

 

Saanich