FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Citizens occupy Vancouver MP's office
12 DECEMBER 2001
Wednesday morning, December 12, 2001, a diverse group of concerned citizens
began an information demonstration in the offices of Stephen Owen, Liberal
MP (Vancouver Quadra) in regard to Bill C-36.

The so-called 'anti-terrorist' legislation was recently passed by
Parliament after the Liberal Government imposed closure after only a half
day's debate. The bill is now in the Senate.
Mr. Owen is Parliamentary Secretary to Anne McClellan, Minister of Justice,
and is believed to have played a key role in drafting this legislation.
-The demonstration at Mr. Owen's constituency office at 5315 West
Boulevard, Vancouver, makes the following demands:
1. A meeting with Mr. Owen to discuss C-36 and other pending
'anti-terrorist' legislation. (Note: Mr. Owen has now agreed with this
demand and a public forum is scheduled for Saturday December 15 in
Vancouver) 10:00 AM probably (venue not yet certain) at St Mark's Anglican
Church, Larch and 37th.
2. Dropping the charges of trespass against the protestors arrested in Anne
McClellan's office in Edmonton on Monday
and
3. We demand that the Senate and Governor General block passage of C-36 and
companion legislation (C-35 and C-42) until such time as the Canadian
people and Parliament have had opportunity for full and detailed
participatory decision making concerning the implications of these Acts for
the civil rights and liberties of all Canadians.
Our concerns about these Acts include the following:
-C-36, in concert to pending Bills C-35 and C-42, represents the most
sweeping assault on civil rights and liberty in Canadian history and would
seriously erode historical rights and freedoms that our ancestors fought
and died for.
-C-36 provides for preventative arrests, detention for
up to 72 hours without charge or appearance before a judge, compels accused
persons to answer any question posed to them on penalty of imprisonment,
and does not require that those accused be appraised of the evidence
against them.
-C-36's definition of 'terrorist' is so broad that literally anyone
involved in legitimate civil protest could be targeted. In fact, anyone
deemed to aid in the planning for protests, even if such protests never
occur, could be targeted.
-C-35 grants "immunity from legal process of every kind to representatives
of a foreign state that is a member of or participates in an international
organization." In addition, C-35 in concert with C-36 creates severe
criminal penalties for anyone who in any way interferes with such foreign
agents, their property or means of transportation, or merely threatens to
do so.
-C-42 allows the Minister of National Defense to declare any place or thing
in Canada a military zone for up to one year. Within this zone, the
military is permitted to use lethal force.
-These Bills, if passed and given Royal Assent, could be used to label and
punish as terrorists those who engage in legitimate civil protest.
-This legislation targets Canadian civil liberties and must be rejected all
by those who value democracy and the rule of law.
We again call upon the Senate and the Governor
General to withhold assent from legislation that would curtail the
fundamental liberties of all Canadians. The British House of Lords has
taken precisely this action in regard to similar legislation in the U.K.
-We call on all local citizens, groups and organizations to show their
support by writing or calling Stephen Owen at 604-664-9220, 5315 W.
Boulevard, Vancouver, V6M 3W4, to express their concerns about this
legislation.
-We call on groups across Canada to take similar actions in their own
communities in solidarity.

Information, contact Deacon Dave Havard, or Dr. Chris Shaw
604-838-8461 or 604-838-5796, Spokespersons.

NEW VIDEO ON THE WEB FROM working TV
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>
> 'Teddy Bear Brigade' Occupies Liberal MP office in Bill C-36 Protest
>
> I imagine some folks might want to see video of the event as well. Its
only
> 2 minutes long .