Intel said:
@ Eminem
Well, the federal election system in Canada does not provide fair representation. The tories had only about 40% of the 2011 votes and yet got majority in HoC.
Back to the main issue. Again, many of us are not against the grounds of revocation. However, you should not give such power to politicians or bureaucrats. How will you get a fair trial from a party who acts as the judge and the claimant at the same time?
I can give you one extreme example. Put yourself in a condition where you oppose Harper's agenda (
remember the environmentalists encounter?). What will prevent his government (under the new law) from considering you a terrorist and stripping you of citizenship?
If you read the new law carefully, the process twist is: (
revoke first, defend later). Imagine yourself an innocent citizen who is accused of conducting terrorist activities outside Canada and the minister revocates your citizenship on that ground (in UK, the revocation can be based on just a
suspision); giving you 30/60 days to appeal at the federal court. What will happen if you miss the appeal window because you are restrained?
Citizenship is priviledge, its NOT a right and the courts have even said this.A priviledge that comes with responsibilities.So since its deemed a priviledge and not a right it doesn't need to go through then judicial process of revocation, it should be revoked by the authority that granted it. If one wants to challenge this, they have legal options available to them to do so. Like I mentioned before, your citizenship is now being granted by the minister, it should be also revoked by the minister. If you have disputes, you have legal options including going to court at your own expense. Just like filing for manandus inorder to receive Citizenship, if the minister hasn't granted you citizenship in a timely manner, you can also challenge a revocation in court . That hasn't changed infact. But yes, the authority that grants you citizenship should have the same authority vice versa to revoke it, and onus is on you to prove why that shouldn't be the case in court.After all, a court is there to settle disputes. So an elected official has the right to revoke it if you are suspected of or engaged in terrorist activities. You nor me don't have a right to citizenship, its a priviledge we are applying for here, so if you are suspected of terrorist activities, THE authority that granted you citizenship should have the legal authority to revoke it. If what you say is correct in regards to the new revocation process, then its being done to prevent endless appeals and time buying.After all, no one is being left stateless here, and that has been made extremely clear. Biggest lesson here is, don't be anywhere near such people nor activities.Its simple.
To answer some of your questions, if you miss the appeal window in the UK because you have been suspected or charged with engaging in terrorism, my friend, that's your own fault!! This is not shop lifting or getting a speeding ticket, terrorism is a serious charge where law enforcement has concrete evidence against you. If you are suspected, you yourself know deep down you have been involved in activities so serious , repercussions will follow. I don't believe people who commit such things are oblivious of their actions, I don't believe people do such things "accidentally" I don't believe people do such things without a single thought as to the actions and consequences. I dont believe Minister Alex will just wake up and snap his fingers and immediately decide to revoke someones citizenship at a whim! Like i said, law enforcement, CSIS,have to mount evidence against you inorder to support such a decision from the minister.You do the deed, you face the harsh and tough measures against you and you do the time.
A terrorist has a definition, their activities are now monitored and traceable thanks to the digital footprint that everyone leaves these days. Like I said before, these are not petty crimes like shop lifting or the like, this is aspiring to commit treason, kill women and children, and destroy infrastructure using explosives , Jets or anything possible.These are sophisticated and planned activities...surely someone that does this deserves NOT to be a Canadian citizen. This is not your everyday Joe, this is a sick person, sometimes undetectable in society, but sick nonetheless.How ever way you look at this.If you truelly support revocation of people who commit such crimes, then support that and the efforts being made to make sure such bannishments happen, fullstop. Why worry about them so much? They plan to do the deed, they should be punished, they are not being waterborded or tortured , they are being punished and jailed rightfully so.