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One of the most odious aspects of Mr @jkenney's draconian, authoritarian #Bill1 (Critical Infrastructure Defence Act) is it criminalizes peaceful public protests/marches down city streets–like the #BLM protests in #YYC yesterday
I explain how dangerous this is below– #THREAD 1/12
I explain how dangerous this is below– #THREAD 1/12
#Bill1 defines as "essential infrastructure" a highway as defined in the Traffic Safety Act––thoroughfare, street, road, trail, avenue, parkway, driveway, viaduct, lane, alley, square, bridge, causeway, trestleway [public or private, incl *SIDEWALKS*, ditches, ROWs]
#ableg 2/12
![#Bill1 defines as "essential infrastructure" a highway as defined in the Traffic Safety Act––thoroughfare, street, road, trail, avenue, parkway, driveway, viaduct, lane, alley, square, bridge, causeway, trestleway [public or private, incl *SIDEWALKS*, ditches, ROWs] #ableg 2/12](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EZmTN2LUEAE0JPC.jpg "#Bill1 defines as \"essential infrastructure\" a highway as defined in the Traffic Safety Act––thoroughfare, street, road, trail, avenue, parkway, driveway, viaduct, lane, alley, square, bridge, causeway, trestleway [public or private, incl *SIDEWALKS*, ditches, ROWs] #ableg 2/12")
#ableg 2/12
#Bill1 also defines as "essential infrastructure" a prov'l highway, transport. facility, transport. system or urban rail transit system as defined in the Hwys Devel'pmnt & Protection Act––which is also incredibly broad & includes *anything* Cabinet designates as such!
#ableg 3/12
#ableg 3/12
Therefore when #Bill1 becomes law *ANYONE* participating in (or even helping organize) peaceful freedom of assembly/speech protests/marches on city streets (even on sidewalks!) *FOR ANY REASON* could be *ARRESTED OR CHARGED* & face $25000 in fines or SIX MONTHS' JAIL
#ableg 4/12
#ableg 4/12
This *CRIMINALIZES* Albertans' Charter rights of freedom of thought, belief, opinion & expression, peaceful assembly & association, whether expressing themselves or protesting on private OR *PUBLIC* land, including city streets & sidewalks.
#ableg 5/12
#ableg 5/12
#Bill1 is no doubt at least in part unconstitutional for being overly broad, not proportional, & not justified in a free & democratic society (i.e., is not saved by the "reasonable limits" or "limitations" clause of the Charter (s. 1).
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Section_1_of_the_Canadian_Charter_of_Rights_and_Freedoms#:~:text=Section%201%20of%20the%20Canadian%20Charter%20of%20Rights%20and%20Freedoms,limit%20an%20individual's%20Charter%20rights
#ableg 6/12
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Section_1_of_the_Canadian_Charter_of_Rights_and_Freedoms#:~:text=Section%201%20of%20the%20Canadian%20Charter%20of%20Rights%20and%20Freedoms,limit%20an%20individual's%20Charter%20rights
#ableg 6/12
However it will take years to challenge #Bill1 in our courts–& meanwhile it puts a dangerous chill on Albertans' rights to express themselves & protest peacefully about important causes
It's another piece of @jkenney political theatre–but it has serious implications
#ableg 7/12
It's another piece of @jkenney political theatre–but it has serious implications
#ableg 7/12
#Bill1 divides & undermines cooperative energy devlpmnt w/ Indigenous
"He calls the law draconian, legally dubious & a piece of political theatre designed to trivialize tensions between oil & gas devlpmnt, Indigenous rights & the environment"
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/edmonton/controversial-bill-targeting-rail-blockade-protesters-soon-to-be-alberta-law-1.5589557
#ableg 8/12
"He calls the law draconian, legally dubious & a piece of political theatre designed to trivialize tensions between oil & gas devlpmnt, Indigenous rights & the environment"
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/edmonton/controversial-bill-targeting-rail-blockade-protesters-soon-to-be-alberta-law-1.5589557
#ableg 8/12
This kind of law threatens our reputation as an ethical, democratic #ESG (Environmental/Social & Governance Criteria) energy source
"..Khan thinks the law could jeopardize Alberta's int'nl reputation as an ethical & democratic source of oil"
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/edmonton/controversial-bill-targeting-rail-blockade-protesters-soon-to-be-alberta-law-1.5589557
#ableg 9/12
"..Khan thinks the law could jeopardize Alberta's int'nl reputation as an ethical & democratic source of oil"
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/edmonton/controversial-bill-targeting-rail-blockade-protesters-soon-to-be-alberta-law-1.5589557
#ableg 9/12
#Bill 1 could also infringe on #IndigenousRights
"David Khan, leader of the @ABLiberal & a constitutional/Indigenous rights lawyer, said the new law could interfere with Indigenous Peoples' rights to hunt, fish or gather on traditional land"
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/edmonton/controversial-bill-targeting-rail-blockade-protesters-soon-to-be-alberta-law-1.5589557
#ableg 10/12
"David Khan, leader of the @ABLiberal & a constitutional/Indigenous rights lawyer, said the new law could interfere with Indigenous Peoples' rights to hunt, fish or gather on traditional land"
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/edmonton/controversial-bill-targeting-rail-blockade-protesters-soon-to-be-alberta-law-1.5589557
#ableg 10/12
We’ve seen Energy Mnstr @sonyasavage publicly muse that #COVID19 public health measures restricting public gatherings are beneficial for building pipelines–clearly demonstrating the UCP govt will take advantage of the situation & IS ANTI-DEMOCRATIC & ANTI-FREE SPEECH
#ableg 11/12
#ableg 11/12
As with Minister @sonyasavage's comments (& others made by the Premier), this #Bill1 law is both dangerous & embarrassing for our province & our fundamentally-important quest to be the respected energy producer for N. America & the West.
Bill 1 should be rescinded.
#ableg 12/12
Bill 1 should be rescinded.
#ableg 12/12
PS: It's clear, @jkenney stands with authoritarian governments like the China-controlled Hong Kong govt, which has made illegal for the first time Hong Kong's annual Tiananmen Square candlelight vigil, under the guise of #COVID19 restrictions.
PPS: if #Bill1 is used to criminalize these protests it'll be a travesty–our existing laws (eg trespass laws) are more than sufficient to deal with protestors who get carried away or those who seek to take advantage of peaceful democratic protests to sow division & commit crimes
PPPS: Instead of blaming protestors, this UCP government should be competently managing their energy & environmental portfolios.
They should focus on better representing Canada's energy industry to the world.
They should focus on the jobs they've promised–not dangerous theatre.
They should focus on better representing Canada's energy industry to the world.
They should focus on the jobs they've promised–not dangerous theatre.
PPPPS: AND, if it isn't abundantly clear, peaceful & legal protests can & should be allowed.
Violent & destructive protests cannot & should not be allowed.
But our Constitution, our Charter of Rights & Freedoms, & existing trespass laws & the Criminal Code already balance this.
Violent & destructive protests cannot & should not be allowed.
But our Constitution, our Charter of Rights & Freedoms, & existing trespass laws & the Criminal Code already balance this.
