New Ministers Day, Mackay, Cannon, Toews, And Solberg Could Be Bad News For Canadian Rights And Freedoms
With yesterday's new federal Conservative cabinet appointments, the Canadian Islamic Congress fears that police-state politics which began under the former Liberal regime will soon emerge in an accelerated and enlarged form.
"The features of an emergent police state in Canada are many," said today's CIC statement.
"They include renewal of the anti-terrorism act; the proposed Canadian no-fly list; the existing no-passport list (both giving unprecedented power to civil servants -- not the courts -- to list and de-list Canadians); security certificate detentions; racial profiling; wiretapping and spying on citizens; and a broad range of additional powers given to both the RCMP and CSIS."
All the current and proposed measures listed above have been implemented without court supervision or due process of law, the statement continued, with the result that "civil liberties of Canadians are eroding and a police state is emerging. Our government is using the fears of its citizens to rob them of their charter rights and freedoms. This is absolutely wrong."
The CIC nevertheless still hopes to soon open up a healthy dialogue with PM Stephen Harper's new cabinet -- especially with the group it calls the "most feared five" -- Stockwell Day (Public Safety), Peter MacKay (Foreign Affairs), Lawrence Cannon (Transport), Vic Toews (Justice) and Monte Solberg (Citizenship and Immigration).
CIC's Exit Poll for the 2006 federal election showed more Muslims voted Conservative than in 2004.
CONTACTS:
Dr. Mohamed Elmasry
(519) 746-4107 (O)
(519) 498-1350 (Cell)
e-mail:
np@canadianislamiccongress.com
Mrs. Wahida Valiante
(905) 771-1023
e-mail:
nvp@canadianislamiccongress.com 
