(OTTAWA) - As the first party to oppose Bill C-51, the Green Party of Canada will be on the front lines during a National Day of Action against the bill, organized by Leadnow.
“Canadians from coast to coast to coast are speaking up this Saturday against Bill C-51, and the Green Party will stand in solidarity with them,” said Elizabeth May, Leader of the Green Party of Canada and Member of Parliament for Saanich – Gulf Islands. “The Big Lie is that this bill will make us safer. It will not. It will confuse and confound law enforcement and the investigation of actual threats while exposing climate change, First Nations, and anti-pipeline activists to the tentacles of C-51. Trade unions could also find themselves caught in the web.”
“With Bill C-51, the Harper Conservatives are using terror to control everything and everyone in Canada,” added Bruce Hyer, Deputy Leader of the Green Party of Canada and Member of Parliament. “C-51 is not about protecting Canadians – it is about the crass politics of fear and division.”
“If Bill C-51 is passed, then those who oppose this government’s reckless resource development agenda, such as the residents of Mégantic, could be targeted as terrorist threats,” stated Daniel Green, Deputy Leader of the Green Party of Canada. “In Quebec, more people have died from contamination and oil spills than from terrorism. The Harper Conservatives must scrap C-51 and focus on the real challenges we face.”
“No one thinks clearly when seized with fear and panic. We must remain calm. We must build bridges of understanding with the Islamic community. We must dramatically improve mental health and addiction counselling. And we must create reliable outreach programmes to counter radicalization. C-51 is dangerous. It must be stopped,” concluded Elizabeth May.
Leadnow has organized over 45 events this Saturday in cities across the country. Green Party officials will stand in solidarity with members of their communities:
Toronto
Who: Elizabeth May, Leader of the Green Party of Canada and Member of Parliament for Saanich – Gulf Islands
Time: 12:00 p.m. (EDT)
Location: Nathan Phillips Square, Toronto, ON
Victoria
Who: Jo-Ann Roberts, Culture and Heritage Critic for the Green Party of Canada and candidate for Victoria
Time: 12:00 p.m. (PDT)
Location: Corner of Fisgard and Government, Victoria, B.C.
Vancouver
Who: Lynne Quarmby, Science Policy Critic for the Green Party of Canada and candidate for Burnaby North – Seymour
Time: 12:00 p.m. (PDT)
Location: Vancouver Art Gallery, Georgia St. W., Vancouver, B.C.
Montreal
Who: Daniel Green, Deputy Leader of the Green Party of Canada
Time: 2:00 p.m. (EDT)
Location: Jarry Metro, Montreal, QC
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For additional information or to arrange an interview, contact:
Julian Morelli
Director of Communications
Green Party of Canada
cell: (613) 614 4916
office: (613) 562 4916 (224)