A parliamentary report calling for greater review of Canada’s national security activities in order to protect Canadians’ rights and freedoms is a step in the right direction, says the International Civil Liberties Monitoring Group. “The ball is now in the Canadian government’s court,” said Tim McSorley, national coordinator of the ICLMG. The ICLMG is disappointed the … Read more
The BC Civil Liberties Association and the Canadian Association of Refugee Lawyers reacted to the Senate’s passage of an amendment to Bill C-6. The amendment creates a new process that ensures the right to a hearing in Federal Court for Canadians whose citizenship the government seeks to revoke for alleged misrepresentation in obtaining their citizenship … Read more
The Canadian Senate must take action to ensure the credibility and effectiveness of national security oversight in Canada, says the International Civil Liberties Monitoring Group. “We are gravely disappointed and concerned that the Canadian government has allowed flawed national security oversight legislation to pass through the House of Commons,” said Tim McSorley, national coordinator of the … Read more
The International Civil Liberties Monitoring Group is disappointed that the Liberal government continues to refuse to make important changes to Bill C-22. Amendments moved by Government House Leader Bardish Chagger (Waterloo, Ont.) were adopted by the government, undoing important changes brought to C-22 by the SECU committee after thorough study, and bipartisan debate and discussion. “The government … Read more
The International Civil Liberties Monitoring Group is expressing its concern over amendments passed in the House of Commons to Bill C-22, a bill that will create a Committee of Parliamentarians to oversee national security activities and policies. The amendments, moved by Government House Leader Bardish Chagger (Waterloo, Ont.), undid important changes brought to the proposed legislation … Read more
Amendments proposed by the government to Bill C-22 threaten to weaken the committee by blocking access to information and inhibiting their ability to investigate national security concerns, warns the International Civil Liberties Monitoring Group. The amendments being proposed by Government House Leader Bardish Chagger (Waterloo, Ont.) would undo changes to the legislation made last November by parliament’s Public Safety … Read more
The International Civil Liberties Monitoring Group have issued the following open letter to Public Safety Minister Ralph Goodale (Regina-Wascana, Sask.): “We are writing to you about the urgent need for Canada to revise the Ministerial Directives on torture issued by the previous government to conform to the unconditional ban on torture in international law. Doing so now would … Read more
The International Civil Liberties Monitoring Group has submitted a brief to the House of Commons Standing Committee on Public Safety and National Security for its study of Bill C-22, An Act to establish the National Security and Intelligence Committee of Parliamentarians and to make consequential amendments to certain Acts. Tim McSorley, the coalition’s National Coordinator stated “Bill … Read more
Members of Parliament in the House of Commons will be debating Bill C-22, a proposed legislation introduced by the government to create a national security and intelligence committee. The International Civil Liberties Monitoring Group welcomed this new legislation, but emphasized the need to include strong independent review mechanisms that would greatly complement the future tasks of the committee. “For instance, we just learned today in the annual report … Read more
The International Civil Liberties Monitoring Group is deeply concerned about the recent news that Canadian immigration officials are denying or withholding visas for hundreds of participants to the World Social Forum (WSF) happening this week in Montreal. This year, it is the 12th annual meeting of the event and the first time to be held … Read more
