Prince Albert anti-terror bill protesters join the nation

A few voices in Prince Albert are joining a national call for the federal government to stop its proposed anti-terrorism legislation.

Protesters around Canada spoke out on Saturday in an event they have dubbed “Defend our Freedom.” 

Amena Stene decided to lead that effort in Prince Albert, and all it took was putting out the word on social media. 

Her reasoning was simple – she wanted to make sure the right to organize and speak freely to criticize the government isn’t affected by Bill C-51.

Terra Lennox-Zepp was among the group of about 10 people in front of Prince Albert’s City Hall discussing and debating politics, and holding signs.

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One woman even wore a spy outfit and held a sign reading “Reject fear!!! Stop C-51” saying she wanted to represent Canada’s spy agency, which would receive new powers under the proposed law.

“The reason I’m here is that I think it is so important that we as Canadians understand new legislation that is coming down the pipe and also that we critique it, consider it. And in this case I’m really critiquing the issue of freedom of speech that this bill wants to curtail,” Lennox-Zepp said.

She said the bill, which is “too broad” is “a huge overreaction by our federal government” regarding freedom of speech in the wake of recent scares and tragedies involving terrorism.

Lennox-Zepp provided an example of her concerns of how the party in power could use Bill C-51.

“Someone in Canada who has an opinion that may be different than our federal government, an opinion that may side with a group like people in the Gaza could be prosecuted as a result of this bill.”

Her solution for the issues with the wide-ranging bill was simple.

“I think that Bill C-51 should be shredded and we should take a more realistic view in considering our freedom of speech,” Lennox-Zepp said.

– With files from the Canadian Press

claskowski@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @chelsealaskowsk