TORONTO — Yesterday, Canadian Civil Liberties Association (CCLA) Lawyers Anaïs Bussières McNicoll (Director of the Fundamental Freedoms Program and Interim Director of the Privacy, Technology and Surveillance Program) and Shakir Rahim (Director of the Criminal Justice Program) wrote to the Members of the Standing Committee on Public Safety and National Security. Further to their letter, they issued the following statement:
The CCLA raised its deep concerns about the way the current public consultation on Bill C-70, An Act respecting countering foreign interference, is taking place. The consultation on this bill of almost 100 pages long began last Thursday and is currently scheduled to end this very week.
While the CCLA acknowledges the importance of addressing any threat to Canada’s democracy, our review of this complex bill identifies several questions left unanswered. For instance, Part 4 of the bill, which purports to create a foreign influence registry, includes vague and broad language that raises democratic accountability issues.
This language also raises concerns about the potential use of the Registry as a tool that could allow the government to monitor not only foreign influence specifically, but also, more generally, the international engagement of various actors, including foreign state-owned or funded broadcasters, academic institutions and charities, as well as international organizations such as the United Nations.
Bill C-70 is a multifaceted bill which also touches on, through its Parts 1 to 3, complex legislation related to national security, as well as intelligence and criminal justice systems. These issues, which raise concerns relating to privacy rights, fundamental freedoms and due process, deserve careful consideration and meaningful engagement with Canadians. Such an involvement simply will not be possible within the timeframe currently allocated to public consultation.
That is why the CCLA is urging the Committee to request from the House of Commons to be granted more time so that truly inclusive and substantive public consultations can take place with respect to Bill C-70.
-30-
Read the full letter here.
Read the joint letter we signed here.
About the Canadian Civil Liberties Association
The CCLA is an independent, non-profit organization with supporters from across the country. Founded in 1964, the CCLA is a national human rights organization committed to defending the rights, dignity, safety, and freedoms of all people in Canada.
Media Contact:
Alex Nanoff – 613.709.6318
media@ccla.org
About the Canadian Civil Liberties Association
The CCLA is an independent, non-profit organization with supporters from across the country. Founded in 1964, the CCLA is a national human rights organization committed to defending the rights, dignity, safety, and freedoms of all people in Canada.
For the Media
For further comments, please contact us at media@ccla.org.
English (Canada) 
Français du Canada