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The New Democrats and the Liberals have laid out their suggested amendments to the government’s flawed anti-terror legislation.

Both call for parliamentary oversight in the form of a national security committee of parliamentarians that would have sweeping powers to investigate the activities of federal departments and agencies involved in security matters.

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Even Conservatives like MP Michael Chong have backed the idea of more political oversight.

The government has indicated it is prepared to make some minor amendments but parliamentary oversight will not be one of them.

Yet the adoption of the idea would go a long way to remedying much of what ails Bill C-51 — fulfilling the concern of academics and lawyers that Canadians should trust their security agencies, but be able to verify their compliance with the law.

Unfortunately, the time for an idea similar to the legislative oversight that exists in Britain has not yet come.