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The most significant expansion in the surveillance powers of the Canadian state in recent years has crept in on cat’s paws.

The opposition parties, who found themselves offside from public opinion when they voted against the mission in Iraq, have been muted in their response to the anti-terror legislation brought in by the government last Friday.

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There have been no press releases and neither party led off on the issue when they had the opportunity to hold the government to account during Question Period on Monday.

The Liberal Party signalled its consent even before reading the draft legislation. Justin Trudeau, the Liberal leader, said he would be focused on oversights and safeguards in the bill.

Violent jihadism is not a human right, it’s an act of war

Tom Mulcair, the NDP leader, has given the legislation a pass, despite saying rights have to be respected.

Both parties appear to have been cowed by the Prime Minister’s pre-emptive strike when the bill was released at a campaign-style event outside Toronto, where he dismissed questions about freedoms being surrendered, in favour of security considerations.