National anti-terrorism bill demonstrations make stops in Thompson-Okanagan

THOMPSON-OKANAGAN – Demonstrators gathered across the country today to protest the government's proposed anti-terrorism legislation. In the Thompson-Okanagan rallies were held in Kamloops and Vernon.

Organizers dubbed the nationwide protests "Defend our Freedom."

The Conservative government introduced the legislation, known as Bill C-51, in January and says it will make Canadians safer.

Dozens of people showed up outside Kamloops Conservative MP Cathy McLeod’s office.

In Vernon, the noon hour rally took place in front of Okanagan-Shuswap MP Colin Mayes’ constituency office. Over 50 residents turned up to show their displeasure with the bill.

The wide-ranging bill would give police much broader powers and allow them to detain terror suspects and give new powers to Canada's spy agency.

Critics say the bill, if enacted as law, will infringe upon Canadians' civil liberties and right to privacy, especially online.

Check out some of the photos posted to social media from the protests in Kamloops and Vernon in the slide show below.

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To contact the reporter for this story, email Howard Alexander at halexander@infonews.ca or call 250-491-0331. To contact the editor, email mjones@infonews.ca or call 250-718-2724.

— With files from The Canadian Press

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One response

  1. “The best way to take control over a people and control them utterly is to take a little of their freedom at a time, to erode rights by a thousand tiny and almost imperceptible reductions. In this way, the people will not see those rights and freedoms being removed until past the point at which these changes cannot be reversed.”. Adolf Hitler“If you have nothing to hide, you have nothing to fear”. Joseph Goebbels (Nazi Propaganda Minister).“Those who would give up essential Liberty, to purchase a little temporary Safety, deserve neither Liberty nor Safety.”. Benjamin FranklinWho does Harper and his B C-51 supporters sound like?

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Howard Alexander

Assistant Editor Howard Alexander comes to iNFOnews.ca from the broadcasting side of the media business.

Howard has been a reporter, news anchor, talk show host and news director, first in Saskatchewan and then the Okanagan.

He moved his family to Vernon in the 90s and is proud to call the Okanagan home.

If you have an event to share contact Howard at 250-309-5343or email halexander@infonews.ca.