1. Democracies & Limitations of Rights

2. 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 the “Occupy protests” in US, Canada, etc. from 2011-2013 could also be an example of this, depending on level of force used

3. 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.

4. Internment in Canada Internment during WWI and WWII: –Motivated by war hysteria, xenophobia (fear of outsiders/immigrants)  immigrants from countries fighting on the other side of the war were considered enemy aliens –German and Ukrainian Canadians during first World War, held in prison camps, lost property and other rights/freedoms, used as forced labour –Over 20,000 Japanese Canadians (64% were born in Canada) during second World War, allowed to take only what they could carry  all other belongings sold by gov’t to pay for internment –Gov’t has apologized for WWII internment but not WWI, some financial compensation as well.

8. 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

9. 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?