Canada has passed sweeping new anti-terrorism legislation that significantly expands the powers of its intelligence services and places new restrictions on speech both online and in print — drawing comparisons to measures introduced in the United States following the September 11 attacks.
Bill C-51, which became law in June despite sustained opposition from civil liberties groups, makes it a criminal offence to encourage terrorism or distribute terrorist propaganda. It also grants the government authority to remove material it classifies as propaganda from the internet and dramatically expands the operational powers of the Canadian Security Intelligence Service, known as CSIS.
Under the new law, CSIS is no longer limited to monitoring potential threats — it can now directly intervene in the activities of individuals or groups it considers dangerous, including blocking bank transactions and seizing online accounts.
The legislation was introduced by Prime Minister Stephen Harper and his Conservative Party government in the aftermath of a lone gunman attack in the nation’s capital, with Harper linking the bill to the threat posed by the Islamic State group.
Opposition has come from a wide range of voices. A group of prominent Canadian artists — including novelist Margaret Atwood and Oscar-winning director Paul Haggis — published an open letter in Maclean’s magazine warning that the criminal speech provisions are too vaguely worded. They argued the definitions could potentially capture documentary filmmaking or works of visual art dealing with controversial subjects, and cautioned that the law risked having a chilling effect on legitimate creative expression.
Minority communities, including many Canadian Muslims, have also raised concerns that the legislation disproportionately targets their communities.
Critics have drawn direct parallels with post-9/11 changes in the United States, where increased coordination between law enforcement agencies led to the creation of so-called fusion centres. Those centres, which cost over one billion dollars, faced criticism for delivering little in terms of genuine security improvements while expanding surveillance of protest movements.
On the political front, the New Democratic Party has pledged to repeal C-51 if it wins a parliamentary majority. The Liberal Party has expressed support for the law while calling for reforms to certain provisions. The Conservatives have indicated they would consider extending its powers further.
The law is also being watched closely ahead of elections, with younger voters in particular flagged as a group that may turn out in higher numbers over concerns about government oversight of online activity.
