BC Chiefs Say Anti-Terrorism Bill Will Infringe on Indigenous Rights

The Union of BC Indian Chiefs (UBCIC) is the latest to speak out against Prime Minister Stephen Harper's proposed Anti-Terrorism Act.

Harper's Bill C-51 is meant to increase the power of RCMP and other bodies to combat terrorism and includes giving more power to security personnel, letting authorities detain possible terrorists for longer periods, and allowing authorities to remove terrorist propaganda from any Canadian-based website. However, critics have said that the bill will restrict Canadians' freedom.

UBCIC says that when the bill “radically and dangerously” expands the power for national security agencies, that it will also “greatly infringe upon the rights of all citizens without making us any safer or secure”.