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It is understandable that a majority of Canadians support the government’s proposed anti-terrorism legislation, Bill C-51. The incidents last October were shocking and traumatic, and the idea that a shooter could gain access to Parliament naturally increases our sense of vulnerability.

It is less understandable why the government seems to be in such a rush to enact new legislation without a full debate about its content, its long-term impact, and its actual effectiveness in countering terrorism and protecting the security and lives of Canadians.

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The two terrorism trials taking place in Victoria (the Canada Day bomb plot) and Toronto (the Via Rail bomb plot) suggest that security intelligence and law enforcement already possess the necessary tools to confront the terrorist threat.

This sense of urgency about passing Bill C-51 seems to be predicated on the notion that CSIS, in particular, needs new powers to better deal with security threats. Recent cases, both here and abroad, suggest however that it is not a question of new powers, but better communication, coordination, training, and most importantly, resources such as manpower and funding.