Bill C-51: Is Stephen Harper Feeling the Heat?

You could tell by just looking at him that Stephen Harper hated the very idea. He was angry he was vicious. 

He went after the opposition like a rabid hyena for daring to criticize his flawed and dangerous anti-terrorism bill.

He accused the NDP of "attacking the police and the security services."

But in the end he folded like cheap suit, and was forced to surrender some ground. 

The Conservatives have agreed to triple the number of parliamentary hearings into the government’s anti-terrorism legislation under pressure from an NDP filibuster for additional expert testimony on Bill C-51.

And while it isn't much ground, it is good news. Firstly, because knowing Stephen Harper, I know that if he buckled it's only because he's feeling the heat. 

It finally dawned on him that by acting like fascist he was only making his bill look like the same thing.

And that must really hurt...



And secondly, because the longer the committee hearings go on, the more Canadians will learn about the bill, and how it threatens to sacrifice our freedoms for a false sense of security. 

Even those too blind to see the danger...



Theo Moudakis/Toronto Star

Or those usually too ignorant or crazed to understand how it could affect them...



Pascal/ Montreal Gazette

And when they do understand what could happen, more Canadians will oppose it, and hold it against the Con regime in the next election campaign.

Which explains why Harper and his foul gang are in such a hurry to speed up the hearings.

“Time is of the essence,” said Conservative MP Daryl Kramp. “I don’t want Rome to burn when Nero fiddles. 

The terrorism threat is real.” Mr. Harper urged the committee to quickly complete its study of Bill C-51 on Thursday, noting the legislation is “strongly supported by Canadians.”

Which leads to the obvious question that Michael Harris asks himself: is Stephen Harper also in a desperate rush to call a very early election? 

Steve the terror-monger has a lot of reasons to call an early election — not least the fact that the popularity of his security bill, which proposes to turn Canada into a police-state, is likely to be short-duration.

Before more Canadians understand how he is trying to turn this country into a police state. And while the fear factor is still high.



It would let Harper campaign on terrorism, not his record. He has his emotional issue: “I am the strong man who will protect you from the beheaders.”

Before the economic situation gets even worse or he is buried in scandal.

He’d escape blowback from the Mike Duffy trial, where Nigel Wright might have to tell the truth under oath, instead of a carefully constructed version of the truth designed to protect the prime minister. Meanwhile, Patrick Brazeau’s preliminary inquiry is set to begin June 1. Mike Duffy’s trial will still be on at that point — bad timing for the PM.

And of course, while he can still hope to profit from the surprise move, and the confusion he himself created.

If Harper calls an early election, there will be confusion at the polls because of changes under the new Elections Act. Many voters will turn up without the proper ID — although you can bet Conservative voters will be well prepared.

Never mind the fixed election date. For Harper, ‘fixed’ will do just fine.

To try to steal another election.

And all I can say is that's where we are, in this frozen February, in this grim Harperland...



This is where our long journey together has brought us.

Almost to the moment in Canadian history when our fate, and the fate of our country will be decided.

And we must be ready to fight the Cons harder than we ever have before. 

For we cannot fail our Canada.

And those fascist monsters must be stopped...



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