Here a vote, there a vote

It’s nice to know the Liberals are standing up for individuals who may be considered a security threat by CSIS. According to a PostMedia News story, Liberal Critic Mark Holland wants these individuals confronted so that they can respond. Just how do you respond when someone asks you if you are a spy?

That is about as dumb an idea as you can get. Somehow I don’t think anyone under suspicion of being a spy or someone under the influence of another government will ever admit to that. Perhaps Holland would drag these individuals before another committee gong show to give them an opportunity to protest their innocence. And what if they were innocent? Some may be a concern to CSIS right now, but in the days ahead they might be cleared. Would making their name public now do them justice?

One would think that CSIS or the RCMP would prefer to quietly monitor these individuals to see who their contacts are, what fundraising they might be doing or which other individuals or projects they might be involved with. On that point it is unfortunate that CSIS head Fadden said anything publically. And just who will confront these individuals? The Liberal Party? The media? A parliamentary committee?  Mind you it would make great television. Perhaps Rick Mercer could be the inquisitor.

A government spokesperson acknowledged that in the event the report was released to the public, it would first be reviewed for national security concerns. If this were the case where does that leave the Liberals and their desire to lift the veil of secrecy on this issue?

For one thing it would provide them with an opportunity to manufacture another detainee type document issue where they could move a motion for the government to provide any and all documents relating to this issue to MPS. Somehow their stand on this issue looks more and more like fishing for votes from ethnic communities rather than concern for the security of the country.

Comments

[Jen]

Just as the opposition parties are deeply concern for their 'taliban detainees' so would their concern be for these supposedly individuals who are of great concern to CSIS.

Remember the ANTI-TERRORIST ACT BILL vote? Apparently only the conservatives vote on the bill whereas the three OPPOSITION PARTIES just sat there not bothering to vote.