2015, Politics, Society

My Message to Senator Yonah Martin

Dear Ms. Martin,

I would like to express my deep disappointment with you and your fellow Senators regarding Bill C-51, a bill that is unconstitutional – and will be found so, I have no doubt. The idea of the Senate is that is a place to reevaluate government legislation. Ostensibly this duty should be above partisan politics. Obviously, your behaviour indicates that you are not interested in evaluating the merits and demerits of what is most assuredly the worst piece of federal legislation I have seen in my lifetime. Limiting debate on this bill, even in a fairly powerless chamber, like the Senate, is not exactly subtle. It is obvious to most Canadians that the Government wishes to ram this legislation through with as little input as possible. I don’t understand how aiding them in this practice upholds your duties as a Senator. I am quite confident that if you were subject to the whims of the electorate, you would not be keeping your seat.

Sincerely,

Riley Haas

This is in response to what she said yesterday, in support of a motion to limit debate on C-51.

Honourable senators, Bill C-51 is an important bill that authorizes Government of Canada institutions to disclose information to other Government of Canada institutions that have jurisdiction or responsibilities in respect to activities that undermine the security of Canada, provides a framework for identifying and responding to persons who may engage in an act that poses a threat to transportation security or who may travel by air for the purpose of committing a terrorism offence, criminalizes terrorist activities, and takes measures to reduce threats to the security of Canada.

I want to remind all honourable senators that not only have many of our colleagues already spoken at third reading, but also there has been considerable examination of this bill to date. While the bill was still in the other house, it was pre-studied by the Standing Senate Committee on National Security and Defence, which heard from 38 witnesses.

After our second reading debate, the Standing Senate Committee on National Security and Defence then completed a study on the bill. It heard from 20 witnesses before completing clause-by-clause consideration.

Bill C-51 remains a priority for our government. Adoption of this motion will ensure an efficient and timely debate of Bill C-51 at this final stage.

During discussion at scroll, an agreement on the allocation of time for Bill C-51 was not reached. Therefore, I ask all honourable senators to adopt this important motion. By passing this motion and subsequently adopting Bill C-51, we are better protecting Canadians from terrorist threats, which is the first duty of any government.

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