OTTAWA — B.C.'s activist and often-influential political culture was on display Tuesday at hearings into the Harper government's national security legislation.

A B.C. aboriginal leader told the parliamentary committee studying Bill C-51 that the legislation was designed mainly to disrupt opposition to expansion of Alberta's oilsands industry.

"We're absolutely convinced this is less about jihadi terrorism in this country and it's more about facilitating and promoting the tripling of the output of the tarsands," Grand Chief Stewart Phillip, president of the Union of B.C. Indian Chiefs, told MPs. "We're gravely concerned."

Phillip is just the latest critic to argue the bill could open the door to government security agencies targeting environmentalists and First Nations activists opposing pipeline expansion to the B.C. coast.

The legislation is aimed at activities that interfere with "critical infrastructure" and threaten the country's "economic or financial stability."

While it exempts "lawful advocacy, protest, dissent and artistic expression," critics have said that leaves open the possibility that authorities could use the new powers to go after those engaged in peaceful civil disobedience.

Alberta Conservative MP LaVar Payne dismissed these "conspiracy theories," suggesting authorities would have neither the time nor an interest in going after those not involved in terrorist activities.

And in the House of Commons Public Safety Minister Steven Blaney dismissed New Democratic Party accusations that the legislation is targeting First Nations protesters.

B.C. has had a considerable number of presenters — including some in favour of C-51 — at hearings this month into the legislation to broaden the powers of the RCMP and the Canadian Security Intelligence Service.

Later Tuesday, Martin Collacott, a B.C.-based former senior diplomat and longtime proponent of a major reform of Canada's immigration policy, argued in favour of more federal powers and resources to deal with radicalization in Canada's Muslim population.

On Wednesday, the Canadian Bar Association, represented by two B.C. lawyers, is going to present the Canadian legal community's deep concerns about the legislation's threat to the rights and freedoms of Canadians.

One of the first witnesses before the committee this month was the B.C. Civil Liberties Association, which bills itself as Canada's most influential rights groups. The association, fresh from its Supreme Court of Canada victory that struck down Canada's laws against assisted suicide, brutally dissected the risks posed by C-51 to rights, privacy and the ability to engage in protest activities.

"To those who might say that this proposed act poses little threat to freedom of expression and dissent, recent examples show that government already takes a very wide view as to what constitutes a threat to Canada's security," said Carmen Cheung. "We need only to look at CSIS and RCMP monitoring of non-violent protests undertaken by First Nations and environmental groups."

B.C. has long been viewed — especially by British Columbians — as being more willing than other provinces to challenge the Canadian status quo.

B.C., perhaps because it was colonized by non-aboriginals far later than central and eastern Canada and by more diverse groups of migrants, has long been viewed - especially by British Columbians - as being more willing to challenge the status quo.