Today we join our voices together to express our deep concern about the Opposition motion that condemns the boycott, divestment and sanctions (BDS) movement.

We are strongly committed to democratic rights and freedoms for all Canadians. The right of dissent is enshrined in the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. Any attempt to criminalize, condemn, intimidate or silence peaceful and nonviolent actions of individuals and groups that support or sympathize with the BDS movement, should be rejected.

Criticizing or opposing Canada’s policies and/or a foreign country’s policies should not be condemned: it is the essence of our freedom and democracy. We remain committed to these principles and we call on our government to commit to them.

Canadian Friends Service Committee (Quakers)

Canadian Labour Congress (CLC)

Canadian Union for Public Employees (CUPE)

Canadian Union of Postal Workers (CUPW)

Independent Jewish Voices (IJV)

International Civil Liberties Monitoring Group (ICLMG)

Ligue des droits et libertés (LDL)

United Church of Canada (UCC)

TAKE ACTION!

Tell your MP you oppose the anti-Boycott motion!

Canada’s numerous national security agencies – including CSEC, CSIS, the RCMP and CBSA – have inadequate or simply no oversight or review mechanisms. This has led to human rights violations such as the rendition to torture of Canadian citizens Maher Arar, Abdullah Almalki, Ahmad El-Maati and Muayyed Nurredin, among others.

In 2006, Justice O’Connor concluded the Arar Commission with several recommendations to prevent such atrocities from happening again: Canadian national security agencies must be subjected to robust, integrated and comprehensive oversight and review.

Years have passed and the federal government has yet to implement the recommendations. Here is how you can help:

ACT NOW

Send a letter (mail may be sent postage-free to any Member of Parliament):

Minister of Public Safety, Ralph Goodale
House of Commons
Ottawa, Ontario
Canada
K1A 0A6

Or an email: ralph.goodale@parl.gc.ca

Model letter

Dear Minister Goodale,

I am writing you today to urge the Liberal government to do the following:

• Repeal the Anti-terrorist Act of 2015 (Bill C-51)
• Make the “No-fly list” open, transparent and accountable
• Ensure that spying on Canadians is not permitted
• Implement the review and oversight mechanisms as recommended by Justice O’Connor in the Arar Commission as soon as possible
• Do not grant any greater powers to CSIS

Sincerely yours,

****

For more information about Canada’s national security agencies and the bodies in charge of their review, if any, click here.

Since you’re here… … we have a small favour to ask. Here at ICLMG, we are working very hard to protect and promote human rights and civil liberties in the context of the so-called “war on terror” in Canada. We do not receive any financial support from any federal, provincial or municipal governments or political parties. Any donations will go a long way to support our work. On the fence about giving? Check out our Achievements and Gains since we were created in 2002. Thank you for your generosity!