Legal

Canadian Supreme Court Nixes Guantanamo North

1fastdog.

Posted to Legal on Wed Feb 28, 2007 at 08:04:11 AM EST (promoted by port1080). RSS.

Canada's Supreme Court unanimously struck down the use of secret testimony to imprison and deport foreigners as possible terrorism suspects, ruling Friday that the procedures violate Canada's Charter of Rights and Freedoms.

Indefinite suspension of suspected terrorists in Canada is now off of the table after the practice was declared unconstitutional(full judgement) by the Supreme Court. The now-scuttled program to detain foreign-born terrorism suspects used "security certificates" as a tool to imprison indefinitely those deemed a threat to national security. All evidence contained in the certificates, after review, could be kept secret by a federal judge.

Canada has 6 suspects which the ruling currently effects; Parliament now has one year to fashion a constitutionally acceptable reading on the use of security certificates or it will have to free the current detainees.

Supporters of the detainees and their lawyers were overjoyed with the news, with one suspect saying  "The Supreme Court, by 9 to 0, has said no to Guantánamo North in Canada."  Those on the other side of the ruling were left gathering their thoughts in a somewhat egalitarian manner:

Public Safety Minister Stockwell Day said the government is reviewing the court's ruling and "intends to respond in a timely and decisive fashion to address the court's decision."

However, he also took shots at an Opposition he deemed "soft on security and soft on terrorism," saying the Conservative government "remains unwavering in its determination to safeguard national security".

< Scoring An Own Goal In Quebec?

Serbia Guilty of Negligent Genocide >

Tags: edited by Port1080, written by 1fastdog, Canada, Parliament, indefinite suspension, detainees, security certificates, terrorism, constitutional rights, law, Supreme Court (all tags)
Add this story to: newsvine reddit digg delicious

This story: 7 comments (1 from subqueue)
Post a Comment
1

Re: Canadian Supreme Court Nixes Guantanamo North

rEvolution inAction.

Wed Feb 28, 2007 at 11:11:15 AM EST

none

God I hate my country. Hurray for the rule of law however.

Tipping Sacred Cows

2

^ 1

Re: Canadian Supreme Court Nixes Guantanamo North

keta.

Wed Feb 28, 2007 at 02:19:22 PM EST

none

God I hate my country.

Care to expand on this, rEv?

Personally, I applaud this decision.

"The overarching principle of fundamental justice that applies here is this: before the state can detain people for significant periods of time, it must accord them a fair judicial process," Chief Justice Beverley McLachlin wrote in the ruling.

Bog's frozen balls, what a wonderful concept!

3

^ 2

Re: Canadian Supreme Court Nixes Guantanamo North

rEvolution inAction.

Wed Feb 28, 2007 at 03:43:58 PM EST

none

The Conservative government in power was trying to get these measures extended, while the Liberals were  responsible for them being adopted in the first place.. Thankfully they included the sunset provisions.. but.. they presently have a year where they can keep people jailed illegally... and knowing the Conservatives they are going to keep them in there until the deadline.. or maybe even after it passes. They ain't much for rights.. or anything else. Just power.

Tipping Sacred Cows

4

^ 3

Re: Canadian Supreme Court Nixes Guantanamo North

keta.

Wed Feb 28, 2007 at 04:47:55 PM EST

none

Thanks for the clarification, rEv.

I agree the Conservatives will use the year to try and weasel through similarly draconian legislation, but I'm truly heartened by the fact the Supreme Court decision was unanimous.  

I thought the funniest comment in the links was from the odious Stockwell Day using the opportunity to tell everyone how those other guys are soft on terrorism, but he and the Conservatives have really got the back of all Canadians.  Where have I heard this grade-school posturing before?  I'm sure I'm not the only one who'd like to put that putz on his Sea-Doo with a full tank of gas and launch him from Cape Cook, pointed in the direction of Japan.

5

^ 4

Re: Canadian Supreme Court Nixes Guantanamo North

rEvolution inAction.

Wed Feb 28, 2007 at 05:20:02 PM EST

none

Stockwell Day may look like a joke, but he's the scariest man in Canadian politics. I truly want Quebec to separate just so we don't have to deal with any more of these sick Jesus-freaks from out west.

Tipping Sacred Cows

6

^ 3

Re: Canadian Supreme Court Nixes Guantanamo North

tomc.

Wed Feb 28, 2007 at 08:16:34 PM EST

none

They ain't much for rights.. or anything else. Just power.

That's a broad brush that takes in most of the political parties I know of, rEv.

7

^ 6

Re: Canadian Supreme Court Nixes Guantanamo North

rEvolution inAction.

Wed Feb 28, 2007 at 08:47:16 PM EST

none

You have no idea how diseased their mentality is..

Tipping Sacred Cows

This story: 7 comments (1 from subqueue)
Post a Comment

search »
Login »
Make a new account
Related Links »
unanimousl y struck down the use of secret testimony
declared unconstitutional
6 suspects
Parliament now has one year
no to Guant&#225;namo North in Canada
"remains unwavering in its determination to safeguard national security
More on Legal
Also by 1fastdog
QuickLinks »
Bellicose Biden
'We're at war,' declared Vice President-elect Joe Biden on the state of the economy, in an effort to rally bipartisan support for Obama's outrageously expensive deficit spending plan. Bet he's glad fellow Democrats spent the past seven years proclaiming that dissent was patriotic.
- gerrymander
<—————+Ο————>
Worst. President (-elect). Ever.
The latest GBO report states that the 2009 federal deficit is estimated to reach $1.2 Trillion (about 8.5% GDP, and almost tripling 2008's $455B deficit), but Obama wants to press ahead with another $750 Billion on a stimulus plan. That's about as much harm to the economy in one year as Bush accomplished in his last four. Hope and change!
- gerrymander
<———Ο—+—————>
No Searching, No Destroying, No Fun
Stooges guitarist Ron Asheton has been found dead at his home in Ann Arbor, Michigan. 'Rock Action' was 60.
- logan
<—————+——Ο——>
He's Good Enough, He's Smart Enough, and he's a Senator!
Al Franken has won the Minnesota Senate race. Incumbent Norm Coleman has 7 days to file the any bullshit lawsuits challenging the results although 'It's up to him whether such a step is worth the tax dollars it will take to conduct'. Bill O'Reilly, who previously declared Coleman the winner, has not yet weighed in.
- logan
<—————+———Ο—>
Dieses Model hält einen vergoldeten Pümpel in der Hand
German portapotty manufacturer puts out sexy calender for 2009. WARNING: TITS, TOILETS, and GERMAN.
- Steve Urkel
<—————+————Ο>
Run a backup...NOW
No snark, no clever quips, just run a backup. Journalspace had one very bad day and now thousands of users' data is lost and the company is dead. Back up your files. Now.
- logan
<—————+——Ο——>
Top 10 International Dystopian Shitholes!
For example: 'President Issaias Afeworki and his small clan of paranoid nationalists continue to run the country like a vast open prison'; (Sounds like detroit)
- pO157
<—————+Ο————>
Senate Leadership to Burris: Drop Dead
Senator-Designate Burris (D-IL) to be forcibly barred from entering the chamber if he shows up to be sworn in on Tuesday.
- pO157
<—————+——Ο——>
Submit a QuickLink:
If you'd like to submit your own QuickLink, you'll need to log in (or register) first.

Users own their contributions, all else is © 2006, 2007 Trees and Things, Incorporated.

Powered by Scoop.

Terms of Service

Privacy