HANNAFORD: Crunch coming between government control and your rights

The Liberal government will face 'intense' U.S. pressure to push Bill C-2 — the Strong Borders Act — through Parliament, according to political strategist Yaroslav Baran, tonight’s guest on Hannaford. .While the bill includes tighter border controls that Conservatives support, it also grants sweeping new surveillance powers to police and Canada’s spy agencies, a move certain to spark fierce debate when MPs return to Ottawa.Baran tells Nigel Hannaford however that by the time Parliament resumes, Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre should be back in the House of Commons after winning his seat in Battle River-Crowfoot, thereby setting the stage for a heated clash over the bill..“So there’s going to be a collision between the U.S. pushing for this legislation and Canadian parliamentarians debating where the lines are drawn between security and civil liberties,” Baran said.The Strong Borders Act was tabled earlier this month as part of Prime Minister Mark Carney’s broader strategy to ease trade tensions with Washington. However, Bill C-2 would allow authorities to demand information without a warrant from (among others) banks, medical professionals, hotels and even car hire companies. Civil liberties groups thus find themselves (unusually) on the same side as Conservative MPs who are saying the legislation infringes on personal privacy and may violate the Charter of Rights and Freedoms.Also to watch as Parliament resumes Sept. 15, is what Baran calls the evolution of “this whole nation-building projects thing.”“The premiers are so far collecting project ideas that they are going to pitch to the federal government, but it's ultimately going to be the federal government that decides which of these projects are going to move forward under this new federal fast track legislation. So you know, get ready for fireworks and horse-trading between the provinces and the federal government, for access to the Bill C-5 nation-building fast track.”.Baran also talks about Prime Minister Carney's controversial — though conditional — promise to recognize a Palestinian state, noting that "you cannot bestow and revoke that."This raises important concerns if the putative state having first met the conditions, goes rogue. "You can't bestow and revoke diplomatic recognition, like turning off and on a light switch. This is a really big move and should not be taken lightly."He does however divorce the Palestinian decision from US trade talks. He says that thanks to quick-thinking trade lawyers, most Canadian businesses outside the handful of targeted sectors are shielded by hastily arranged registration under the US-Mexico-Canada agreement, (USMCA, or CUSMA.)The real test will come when the carve-outs secured in the early stages expire or face review. The US gave ground in part because they saw Canada as a stable partner but if they start to doubt that, those exemptions could quickly evaporate.Baran also offers his thoughts on why Mr. Carney backs a Quebec dairy industry that produces expensive milk and dairy products and the post-tariff prospects for the Ontario automobile manufacturing industry.Hannaford airs at seven o'clock tonight.

HANNAFORD: Crunch coming between government control and your rights

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