Re: Echoes of the Red Scare, Todd Whitcombe, April 4, 2015.
What an interesting comparison between McCarthysm and the Red Scare to today's anti-terror sentiment in Canada today. It is interesting because it is typical for the political left to use its own scare tactics and manipulate information for its own gain.
How do you compare the campaign led by Senator McCarthy who used innuendo and rumours to shame individuals to Bill C-51? You admit that this bill requires information obtained by the RCMP and CSIS to go before a judge who will receive information into evidence that is "reliable and appropriate". The amendments to C-51, proposed by the opposition ask for parliamentary committees for oversight. The opposition's proposal to have elected officials who will follow their party's agenda to dictate the legislation is a closer relation to Sen. McCarthy who also did not have judicial oversight and used information that was not reliable or appropriate.
Criticism regarding the definition of the bill's lack of definition of acts that "may occur" is likely due to your lack of understanding that Bill C-51 are amendments to the anti-terror legislation brought in by the Chretien government in 2001 in response to 9/11. The CSIS act does describe what constitutes a threat to Canada. C-51, sec 5, adds the requirement of description of actions taken and the lists of warrants issued and denied to take such actions.
You have provided a partial description of what Bill C-51 requires of intelligence agencies and have suggested the government intends to gain information on its citizens without due process. This type of fear mongering is exactly what McCarthyism is. Maybe you should have titled your article "Pot calling Kettle Black".
Evan Tingle
Prince George
