New Democrats have accused a senior Liberal MP of resorting to fear-mongering to defend her party’s support for the Harper government’s controversial anti-terror legislation.
During a debate in the House of Commons Tuesday, NDP MP Wayne Marston wondered how the party of Pierre Trudeau could vote for Bill C-51.
“What is interesting is we have had four previous prime ministers, three of them Liberal, 100 professors and lawyers say that this is a flawed bill and should be withdrawn,” he said.
“I am very much mystified as to why the Liberals would support something where the history of their own party rails against it.”
Liberal defence critic Joyce Murray responded by saying governments must keep up-to-date with security requirements. Then, she ramped up the rhetoric.
“I would ask the member whether he would want it on his conscience should there be an attack that leads to deaths of Canadians because of the loopholes that the bill is attempting to fix?” Murray asked.
The Vancouver MP said Liberals will address concerns raised about the bill’s impact on privacy and other rights if they win the next federal election.
“It will be in our platform and it will be an urgent mandate for us should we form government after the next election,” she said.
NDP staffers promptly took to Twitter to share an edited clip of the exchange and criticize the Liberal MP.
Twojournalists suggested online that Murray’s language was actually stronger than that used by Conservatives to defend the bill.
The Halifax Chronicle Herald's Paul McLeod compared it to the infamous moment when former public safety minister Vic Toews defended an online surveillance bill by saying opposition MPs could either “stand with us or with the child pornographers.”
Bill C-51 would give the Canadian Security Intelligence Service new powers to actively thwart terror plots and increase the exchange of federal security information. It would also make it a crime to encourage someone to carry out a terrorist attack and expand no-fly list powers.
The final vote on the legislation will take place Wednesday night. The bill is expected to pass easily.
ALSO ON HUFFPOST:
What Liberals Would Change About Bill C-51
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The Liberal Party of Canada is supporting the federal government's controversial anti-terror legislation, but the party has called for several amendments.Justin Trudeau has said that if the following changes are not made to Bill C-51 before it passes, Liberals will do so if they win the next federal election.(Courtesy of The Canadian Press) (credit:CP)
OVERSIGHT(02 of77)
Creation of a national security committee of parliamentarians with up to six MPs and three senators (credit:CP)
SUNSET CLAUSES(03 of77)
Expiry of certain provisions after three years, unless Parliament decides to renew them. (credit:Getty)
REVIEW(04 of77)
A comprehensive parliamentary review of the bill after three years. (credit:Getty)
PROTECTING PROTEST RIGHTS(05 of77)
Removal of the word "lawful'' from a section that states the bill's information-sharing provisions do not apply to "lawful advocacy, protest, dissent and artistic expression.'' (credit:CP)
PROTECTING CHARTER RIGHTS(06 of77)
A guarantee that the Canadian Security Intelligence Service's new disruptive powers would not violate the Charter of Rights and Freedoms. (credit:CP)
WATCHDOG REPORT(07 of77)
An annual report from the privacy commissioner on information-sharing conducted under the law. (credit:CP)
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The Conservatives have tabled an anti-terror bill that will give Canada's spy agency more power to thwart suspected terrorists.Here are 5 things you need to know.(Information courtesy of The Canadian Press) (credit:CP)
The Power To Disrupt(09 of77)
The Canadian Security Intelligence Service will get new powers to actively disrupt terrorism plots, instead of just collecting information about them. CSIS would need "reasonable grounds to believe'' there was a security threat before taking measures to disrupt it and would need a court warrant whenever proposed disruption measures violate the Charter of Rights or otherwise breach Canadian law. (credit:CP)
Targeting Terrorist Propaganda(10 of77)
The spy agency will also be allowed to wage cyberwar, by disrupting radical websites and Twitter accounts aimed at impressionable young Canadians. The RCMP would be allowed seek a judge's order to remove terrorist propaganda from the Internet. (credit:AP)
From 'Will Commit' To 'May Commit'(11 of77)
The new law will make it easier for the RCMP to obtain a peace bond, a legal tool that could order suspects to surrender passports or report to police regularly. In the past, the Mounties had to hold a reasonable belief that someone "will commit" a terrorism offence before they could get such a bond. Now, the threshold will be a fear that someone "may commit'' an offence. (credit:Getty)
Stay Grounded(12 of77)
The legislation would expand the no-fly regime to cover those who seek to travel by air to take part in terrorist activities, allowing authorities to keep would-be extremists off planes. Under current law, that can only be done to counter an immediate risk to the aircraft. (credit:CP)
Careful What You Wish For(13 of77)
The legislation would make it a criminal offence to encourage someone to carry out a terrorism attack. It also would allow police to arrest someone without a warrant and hold them for up to seven days before a hearing. That's up from the three-day maximum under current law. (credit:Alamy)
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Wall Street Journal(17 of77)
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Washington Post(18 of77)
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Los Angeles Times(19 of77)
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The Guardian, U.K.(20 of77)
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'Gunman Attacks Canadian Parliament, Sows Panic': El Pais, Madrid, Spain(21 of77)
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'Death In Parliament: Canada In Shock:' SudOuest, France(22 of77)
'Terror Strikes Canada in the Heart': De Morgen, Belgium(23 of77)
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'Canada Startled by Attack': Volkskrant, Netherlands(24 of77)
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'Shooting Puts World on Edge': AD, Netherlands(25 of77)
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'Canada's Capital Becomes a War Zone': Aftenposten, Norway(26 of77)
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'Shots In Canadian Parliament': Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung, Germany(27 of77)
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The National, United Arab Emirates(28 of77)
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Arab Times, Kuwait(29 of77)
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Kuwait Times(30 of77)
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Daily Star, Lebanon(31 of77)
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Dawn, Pakistan(32 of77)
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An Ottawa police officer runs with his weapon drawn, outside Parliament Hill in Ottawa, on Oct. 22, 2014. (credit:AP Photo/The Canadian Press, Sean Kilpatrick)
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RCMP intervention team members clear the area at the entrance of Parliament Hill in Ottawa, Oct. 22, 2014. (credit:AP Photo/The Canadian Press, Adrian Wyld)
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Police and paramedics tend to a soldier shot at the National Memorial near Parliament Hill in Ottawa on Oct. 22, 2014. (credit:AP Photo/The Canadian Press, Adrian Wyld)
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Police teams enter Centre Block at Parliament Hill in Ottawa on Oct. 22, 2014. (credit:AP Photo/The Canadian Press, Justin Tang)
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Ottawa police patrol along the Elgin St. steps near the National War Memorial in Ottawa, Canada, Oct. 22, 2014. (credit:Mike Carroccetto/Getty Images)
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RCMP and Ottawa police cruisers on Wellington St. stand guard after a shooting at the National War Memorial near the Canadian Parliament Oct. 22, 2014. (credit:Mike Carroccetto/Getty Images)
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Ottawa police direct traffic on Elgin St. near the National War Memorial, Oct. 22, 2014. (credit:Mike Carroccetto/Getty Images)
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An Ottawa police officer stands guard on Wellington St. after a shooting occurred at the National War Memorial near the Canadian Parliament Oct. 22, 2014. (credit:Mike Carroccetto/Getty Images)
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An Ottawa police office draws her weapon outside Parliament Hill in Ottawa on Oct. 22, 2014. (credit:AP Photo/The Canadian Press, Sean Kilpatrick)
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Police teams move towards Centre Block at Parliament Hill in Ottawa on Oct. 22, 2014. (credit:AP Photo/The Canadian Press, Justin Tang)
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An Ottawa police officer runs with his weapon drawn outside Parliament Hill in Ottawa on Oct. 22, 2014. (credit:AP Photo/The Canadian Press, Sean Kilpatrick)
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An Ottawa police officer runs with his weapon drawn outside Parliament Hill in Ottawa on Oct. 22, 2014. (credit:AP Photo/The Canadian Press, Sean Kilpatrick)
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Police secure an area around Parliament Hill in Ottawa on Oct. 22, 2014. (credit:AP Photo/The Canadian Press, Adrian Wyld)
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A soldier standing guard at the National War Memorial was shot by an unknown gunman and people reported hearing gunfire inside the halls of Parliament. (credit:AP Photo/The Canadian Press, Jacques Boissinot)
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Paramedics and police pull a shooting victim away from the Canadian War Memorial in Ottawa on Wednesday Oct.22, 2014. A Canadian soldier standing guard at the National War Memorial in Ottawa has been shot by an unknown gunman and there are reports of gunfire inside the halls of Parliament. (credit:THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld)
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An RCMP intervention team runs next to a Parliament building in Ottawa Wednesday Oct.22, 2014. A Canadian soldier standing guard at the National War Memorial in Ottawa has been shot by an unknown gunman and there are reports of gunfire inside the halls of Parliament. (credit:THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld)
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RCMP intervention team members walk past a gate on Parliament hill in Ottawa. (credit:THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld)
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A soldier, police and paramedics tend to a soldier shot at the National Memorial near Parliament Hill in Ottawa on Wednesday Oct.22, 2014. (credit:THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld)
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Police secure an area around Parliament Hill in Ottawa on Wednesday Oct.22, 2014. A gunman opened fire at the National War Memorial, wounding a soldier, then moved to nearby Parliament Hill and wounded a security guard before he was shot, reportedly by Parliament's sergeant-at-arms. (credit:THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld)
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Police secure an area around Parliament Hill in Ottawa on Wednesday Oct.22, 2014. A gunman opened fire at the National War Memorial, wounding a soldier, then moved to nearby Parliament Hill and wounded a security guard before he was shot, reportedly by Parliament's sergeant-at-arms. (credit:THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld)
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Police and paramedics tend to a soldier shot at the National Memorial near Parliament Hill in Ottawa on Wednesday Oct.22, 2014. Police are expanding a perimeter around Parliament Hill after a gunman opened fire at the National War Memorial, wounding a soldier, then moved to nearby Parliament Hill where he was reportedly shot by Parliament's sergeant-at-arms after wounding a security guard. (credit:THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld)
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Heavily-armed RCMP officers arrive at 24 Sussex Drive, the residence of Canada's Prime Minister Stephen Harper on Wednesday, Oct. 22, 2014. (credit:THE CANADIAN PRESS/Justin Tang)
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Civilians leave a secured area around Parliament Hill in Ottawa on Wednesday Oct.22, 2014. Police are expanding a perimeter around Parliament Hill after a gunman opened fire at the National War Memorial, wounding a soldier, then moved to nearby Parliament Hill where he was reportedly shot by Parliament's sergeant-at-arms after wounding a security guard.The Hill remains under lockdown amid reports there may be two to three shooters, according to a senior official locked in the Official Opposition Leaders' office. (credit:THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld)
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Police teams move towards Centre Block at Parliament Hill in Ottawa on on Wednesday, Oct. 22, 2014. A gunman opened fire at the National War Memorial, wounding a soldier, then moved to nearby Parliament Hill and wounded a security guard before he was shot, reportedly by Parliament's sergeant-at-arms. (credit:THE CANADIAN PRESS/Justin Tang)
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An Ottawa police office draws her weapon in Ottawa on Wednesday Oct.22, 2014. Police are expanding a security perimeter in the heart of the national capital after a gunman opened fire and wounded a soldier at the National War Memorial before injuring a security guard on Parliament Hill, where he was reportedly shot dead by Parliament's sergeant-at-arms. (credit:THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick)
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An Ottawa police officer runs with his weapon drawn in Ottawa on Wednesday Oct.22, 2014.Police are expanding a security perimeter in the heart of the national capital after a gunman opened fire and wounded a soldier at the National War Memorial before injuring a security guard on Parliament Hill, where he was reportedly shot dead by Parliament's sergeant-at-arms. (credit:THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick)
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People under lockdown look out of an office building near Parliament Hill in Ottawa on Wednesday, Oct. 22, 2014. A gunman opened fire at the National War Memorial, wounding a soldier, then moved to nearby Parliament Hill and wounded a security guard before he was shot, reportedly by Parliament's sergeant-at-arms. (credit:THE CANADIAN PRESS/Justin Tang)
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Police search cars and pedestrians as they leave the Alexandra Bridge and enter Gatineau, Que. near the Parliament Buildings during an active shooter situation in Ottawa on Wednesday, October 22, 2014. (credit:THE CANADIAN PRESS/ Patrick Doyle)
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Police officers take cover in Ottawa on Wednesday Oct.22, 2014.Police are expanding a security perimeter in the heart of the national capital after a gunman opened fire and wounded a soldier at the National War Memorial before injuring a security guard on Parliament Hill, where he was reportedly shot dead by Parliament's sergeant-at-arms. (credit:THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick)
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Traiffic is stopped below Parliament Hill during a lock down in the downtown core of Ottawa after a member of the Canadian Armed Forces was shot in Ottawa, Wednesday October 22, 2014. (credit:THE CANADIAN PRESS/Fred Chartrand)
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Prime minister's limo and protection detail at 24 Sussex Drive. (credit:Tony Fouhse)
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East Block of Parliament. (credit:Tony Fouhse)
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Bank of Canada building. (credit:Tony Fouhse)
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National Capital Commission display titled "Representations of Canada" in Confederation Square. (credit:Tony Fouhse)
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Roadblock on Elgin Street. (credit:Tony Fouhse)
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Bus shelter on Parliament Hill. (credit:Tony Fouhse)
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Prime Minister's Office, Langevin Block. (credit:Tony Fouhse)
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Israeli Embassy. (credit:Tony Fouhse)
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Government buildings on Laurier Avenue. (credit:Tony Fouhse)
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Embassy of the Unites States of America. (credit:Tony Fouhse)
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Photojournalists on Wellington Street. (credit:Tony Fouhse)
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Taxation Centre at 875 Heron Road. (credit:Tony Fouhse)
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Confederation Boulevard. (credit:Tony Fouhse)
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Public Service Alliance of Canada headquarters. (credit:Tony Fouhse)
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RCMP Headquarters. (credit:Tony Fouhse)