Democracies & Limitations of Rights

During emergencies or in a crisis, liberal democratic governments may limit people’s rights and freedoms. Usually done to ensure people’s safety or protect the common good of the country Most common example in Canada is calling in military or mandatory evacuations during natural disasters. Efforts by police to break up protests in US, Canada, etc. could also be an example of this, depending on level of force used

Conscription Crisis (1917) When Britain declared war on Germany in 1914, Canada was automatically at war too. 1917 – heavy casualties lead the gov’t to introduce conscription (mandatory military service for men) Francophones in Quebec didn’t see why they should go fight on behalf of the British Large protests and riots break out, soldiers called in to restore order and 5 civilians killed.

October Crisis (1970) FLQ – le Front de liberation du Quebec – extremist separatist group committed terrorist acts in 1960s October 1970 – FLQ kidnaps 2 gov’t officials, murders one of them P.M. Pierre Trudeau – invokes War Measures Act which temporarily suspended individual rights and freedoms  soldiers called in to patrol Ottawa and many cities in Quebec, police arrest hundreds without charges or bail The use of War Measures Act was mostly supported by citizens, but criticized by some as excessive, especially in Quebec since FLQ was separatist

Anti-Terrorism Anti-terrorism Act – passed by gov’t in 2001 (after 9/11) – limits individual rights and freedoms in cases of suspected terrorism PATRIOT Act – American anti-terrorism legislation, very severe limitations on rights and freedoms, gives police and gov’t many powers to investigate citizens with limited evidence Key Questions: - Where do we draw the line between security and freedom? How much of our rights should we give up in order to protect society?