How very interesting that a law that has been in place since 1978 would only now be found to be at variance with Canada’s Charter of Rights and Freedoms. From the BBC, with thanks to all who sent this in:
Canada’s Supreme Court has struck down a controversial system that allowed the government to detain and deport foreign-born terror suspects.
The nine judges ruled that the security certificate system – in place since 1978 – violated Canada’s Charter of Rights and Freedoms.
The debate over the law pitched security against individual rights
Canada’s Supreme Court has struck down a controversial system that allowed the government to detain and deport foreign-born terror suspects.The nine judges ruled that the security certificate system – in place since 1978 – violated Canada’s Charter of Rights and Freedoms.
The system allowed a suspect to be held indefinitely or deported on the basis of evidence presented in secret.
The case was brought by three men who deny accusations of links to al-Qaeda.
‘Fair process’
The Supreme Court has given parliament one year to rewrite the section of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act – under which the certificates are issued – to comply with the constitution.
“Before the state can detain people for significant periods of time, it must accord them a fair judicial process,” wrote Chief Justice Beverley McLachlin on behalf of all nine judges.