Article content continued

Even worse, the Liberals haven’t even started the process of reviewing our security state in substance. And any meaningful review of C-51 figures to become more difficult as authorities claim that their practices have become too entrenched to change.

Faced with that pattern of delay, NDP MP Randall Garrison has announced his intention to introduce a private members’ bill to put the contents of C-51 to an immediate test. And the Liberals will thus have to answer for their complete lack of action in revisiting even elements of C-51 they criticized when it was passed.

At the same time, the Conservatives and others are not only refusing to acknowledge any flaws in Canada’s existing security state, but are also hinting at demanding even more of a crackdown on personal freedoms. And some seem to be treating the foiled attack planned by Aaron Driver as an excuse for even more surveillance and disruption powers.

Lest anybody think those calls are any more founded in reality than the scaremongering behind C-51, though, it’s worth noting that none of the measures put in place through C-51 look to have helped in Driver’s case.

In fact, the peace bond scheme pushed by the Conservatives failed utterly. Despite being subject to limits on individual action set up by C-51, Driver — working alone — was able to assemble an explosive device as part of a plan to attack civilians.

Moreover, it was FBI surveillance, not any action by CSIS or any other Canadian authority, that identified Driver’s plans in time for the RCMP to respond. Yet somehow we’re now facing calls for even more severe intrusions on privacy.