Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre insists that the federal Liberals must make substantial changes to their border bill or present a new legislative proposal to garner support for its passage into law. Poilievre emphasized the need to eliminate clauses in Bill C-2 that infringe upon the individual freedoms and privacy of Canadians, attributing such measures to the shortcomings of the Liberal government in managing border and immigration issues.
The Strong Borders Act, also known as C-2, represents a key piece of legislation by the Liberal government, initially introduced to address concerns raised by the Trump administration regarding border security. While Government House Leader Steven MacKinnon has framed the bill as essential for law enforcement to ensure border security, critics from civil rights and privacy advocacy groups have raised objections, citing provisions that appear to exceed the legislation’s intended scope.
The proposed 140-page law grants extensive powers to security and intelligence agencies, including expanded authority to inspect mail and the ability to revoke or suspend immigration documents. Bill C-2 also includes provisions allowing police to request subscriber information from internet and online service providers without a warrant, prompting concerns about potential privacy violations and compliance with constitutional rights.
Expressing reservations about the bill’s intrusive elements, the Conservative party, led by Poilievre, has declared their refusal to support the current legislation and urged the Liberals to introduce a revised bill. Poilievre stressed the importance of focusing on addressing border security challenges, combating fraudulent refugee claims, and upholding individual liberties while conducting legitimate activities such as using mail services, the internet, and engaging in lawful transactions.
In response to criticisms, Poilievre clarified that law enforcement authorities can still conduct searches, including mail inspections, but emphasized the necessity of obtaining warrants for such actions. With the Liberals requiring support from other parties in a minority Parliament to pass legislation, concerns about government overreach have been echoed by the New Democrats and the Bloc Québécois.
As discussions on potential modifications to the bill continue, a representative from MacKinnon’s office refrained from commenting on the government’s willingness to significantly alter the existing legislation or introduce a new bill.