Toronto Day of Action Against Secret Police Bill C-51

Maya Bhullar —

People will be taking a stand from Victoria to Halifax, with more than 50 events across Canada confirmed for Saturday March 14, 2015

Toronto: On Saturday, March 14, people in Toronto will gather at Nathan Phillips Square at noon, to rally against Bill C-51: the federal government’s new “secret police” law. The event will be opened by Elder Pauline Shirt, followed by speakers from Idle No More Toronto, labour unions, and communities that will be targeted by this bill.  Members of Parliament from the New Democrats and the Green Party have also agreed to participate and speak.

Finally, Chris Hedges, a progressive columnist who has been a leader in the fight for civil liberties and privacy in the United States, will be flying in from New York to speak at this event.

Our message is that Bill C-51 is reckless, dangerous and ineffective and we demand that the government withdraw this proposed legislation.

Echoing the National Day of Action Against Bill C-51, the Toronto Day of Action Against Bill C-51 grew from a diverse grassroots coalition.

The groups endorsing the Toronto rally are:

Youth Vote Canada, Action for Civil Liberties, Idle No More Toronto, Committee on Monetary and Economic Reform, Toronto350.org, Millions Against Monsanto Toronto, Greater Toronto Workers Assembly, PipeLeaks, Toronto Coalition to Stop the War, Ontario Federation of Labour, International Association of Machinists & Aerospace Workers, Occupy Canada, Canadian Unitarians for Social Justice, Greater Toronto Area Council, Low Income Families Together, Centre for Social Justice, Network for the Elimination of Police Violence, Toronto Seed Library, Greenpeace Canada, Elementary Teachers of Toronto, Common Frontiers, Amnesty International Canada, The Zeitgeist Movement Toronto Chapter,Council of Canadians (Toronto), UNIFOR, & Canadian Union of Public Workers.

Nationally, the coalition is being coordinated and supported by Leadnow.ca, the BCGEU and OpenMedia.ca, with local leaders from across the country.

Toronto’s Day of Action Against Bill C-51 will take place at noon on Saturday, March 14th at Nathan Phillips Square. Following the rally, supporters will march to 277 Front Street; home to the Toronto CSIS office.