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Several hundred protesters braved thunderstorms in the capital Saturday afternoon as part of a final push to oppose Bill C-51, also known as the Anti-Terrorism Act, that is headed toward third reading and final approval.

Marchers chanted determinedly from the Human Rights Memorial to Parliament through downtown, in one of about 20 similar protests across the country, according to organizers.

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In the Market, the marchers’ spirits were buoyed as bystanders cheered and drivers honked.

Some organizers feel the turnout was also hurt by a general feeling of resignation, as polls show that, while more than half of Canadians now disagree with at least part of the proposed bill, they nevertheless believe C-51 will be pushed into law.

Photo by Ashley Fraser / Ottawa Citizen

“I’m certain the bill will pass next week. It’s an unfortunate consequence of the … first-past-the-post majority system we have in place,” Sterling Lynch, a writer, said of Canada’s political system.

“I can’t think of any way to reimagine this bill to be effective. We don’t want to sacrifice our liberties. That’s not security,” he added.

Photo by Ashley Fraser / Ottawa Citizen

“I think some parts of the bill are good, but some parts are very concerning,” said Faduma Mustafa, a Muslim protester who works as a sales associate.

“I don’t want this bill because it’s being rushed and it’s feeding fear. I’ve read this statistic that more people die yearly from domestic homicide than people have died as a result of terrorism since 2001,” she said.

“There are so many other things to worry about, such as Indigenous peoples’ rights.”

First Nations protest organizer Lynda Kitchikaeesic Juden is another strong opponent of the bill.

“It troubles me and it worries me that other Canadians don’t realize that this bill, and this sounds horrible, but it means that they can be treated just like Natives,” she said.