As the federal government's decision on Enbridge's Northern Gateway pipeline looms closer, one B.C. civil rights group is making sure activists know their rights.
Over the past few months the B.C. Civil Liberties Association (BCCLA) has been hosting seminars to teach people how to conduct legal protests, according to News 1130.
“The important thing for us is that whatever people’s position is on particular political issues, that they really be aware of what their rights are if they do decide to go out and protest,” Josh Paterson, a BCCLA lawyer who spoke at the seminars, told the outlet.
If arrested, Paterson advises writing down police badge numbers and having a camera at the ready, reports the Vancouver Observer. Protesters have the right to photograph and film police as long as it doesn't cause an interference.
On Tuesday, the federal government's Government Operations Centre sent an email to all federal departments requesting surveillance of all known demonstrations across the country, according to the Ottawa Citizen.
The BCCLA responded with this statement from policy director Micheal Vonn, posted to its website on June 6:
This is a travesty. The Canadian government cannot use the guise of “situational awareness” or a completely ungrounded claim of potential for national emergencies as an excuse for blanket surveillance of all peaceful protest. This surveillance directive is outrageous and it will be challenged. All people in Canada have a constitutional right to peaceful assembly. Having that right threatened by the government is the true national emergency.
On Thursday, an ad supporting Enbridge's pipeline project was published in newspapers across the country. It was signed by former Liberal deputy prime minister John Manley, former Conservative cabinet ministers Perrin Beatty and Chuck Strahl, Alberta Premier Dave Hancock, Saskatchewan Premier Brad Wall, and former Newfoundland premier Brian Tobin, among others.
The federal government's decision on the Northern Gateway is expected within the next week.
With files from The Canadian Press
Like Us On Facebook
Follow Us On Twitter
Also on HuffPost
