A Liberal-appointed senator says he and his staff were bombarded with racist and abusive phone calls after he spoke out against a controversial federal bill granting cabinet new powers over industrial projects.Blacklock's Reporter says Sen. Paul Prosper, a Mi’kmaq lawyer and former chief of the Paqtnkek Mi’kmaw First Nation in Nova Scotia, told the Senate that the backlash was so severe he instructed staff not to answer calls from unknown numbers. “Canada is becoming a country of extremes,” Prosper said. “Gone is the ability to have moderate social discourse. Instead positions must be black and white with no grey space in between.”The flood of hostile calls came after Prosper raised concerns about Bill C-5, legislation that would allow cabinet to fast-track projects deemed to be “in the national interest.” Prosper warned the bill was being rushed through without enough scrutiny and posed a threat to parliamentary oversight and indigenous rights..“When I came out against the rushed nature of this bill and spoke about the need to amend or even delay its passage, racist vitriol and threats to my office was experienced,” he said. “It was so intense some staff asked for permission to not pick up unknown phone calls.”During the debate, Prosper proposed a last-minute amendment requiring the federal cabinet to obtain the “free, prior and informed consent” of indigenous communities before approving any development. The amendment was defeated 48 to 28.Prosper criticized the bill for concentrating power in the hands of cabinet and bypassing Parliament.“Our territories and resources are going to be subjected to unilateral decisions made by the Governor in Council,” he said. “There is no need to have a House of Commons or Senate when cabinet can make the decisions.”.He urged fellow senators to assert their legislative role and not shy away from proposing changes.“I cringe when I hear people say we need to back away from amendments lest it turn public opinion against us,” said Prosper. “Senators have often remarked on Canadians’ questioning our relevance. I say to you we are only irrelevant if we make ourselves irrelevant.”The Senate has not defeated a government bill since 1996, when it rejected legislation that would have created a liability shield for managers at Toronto’s Pearson International Airport.Prosper’s office did not respond to requests for comment.
