Terrorism, Law, and Democracy Khalid M'Seffar

Episode Notes
Part 1. Terrorism: A Backgrounder
Introduction to the series and the concept of terrorism.


Gwynne Dyer on September 11th and the need to balance perspectives in dealing with terrorism.
Noam Chomsky, excerpts from The New War on Terrorism: Fact and Fiction, recorded October 18, 2001 (Alternative Radio).
The Bush doctrine of American Internationalism: a background for understanding the war on terrorism (State of the Union Address, February 27, 2001).

Episode Notes
Presentation of the conference panel How Has Canada Responded to Serious Threats in the Past? With Professors Reg Whitaker (Political Sciences, York University and University of Victoria) and Desmond Morton (History, McGill University), moderated by Prof. Anne-Marie Boisvert (Law, Université de Montréal).

A history of national security crises in Canada including the War Measures Act, the October Crisis, and the Emergency Doctrine.


D. Morton on the period 1866 – 1942
R. Whitaker on the Cold War and October Crisis.

Episode Notes
The fundamentals of the criminal law: the Anti-Terrorism Act.
Presentation of the conference panel Terrorism and the Criminal Law.
Panel: Kent Roach, Richard Mosley, Don Stuart, moderated by Louise Viau.


Richard Mosley (Assistant Deputy Minister, Criminal Law Policy and Community Justice, Department of Justice Canada) on the adoption of Bill C-36 and as a valid exercise of preventative power.
Kent Roach (Faculty of Law, University of Toronto) examines the structure of the Anti-Terrorism Act and the issues related to the definitions of terrorist groups and activities.
Don Stuart (Faculty of Law, Queen’s University) critiques the act as a law & order quick fix and questions the justifications for the new legislation.

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Episode Notes
Continued analysis of the Anti-terrorism Act and Canada’s Anti-Terrorism Strategy.


Presentation by Ward Elcock (Director, Canadian Security Intelligence Service) on 9/11, the war on terrorism, and CSIS’ new investigative and preventative powers.
Interview with Kevin Thomas (Advisor, Lubicon Cree) on the experiences of First Nations and national security in light of new legislation.
Interview with Rocco Gallati (Counsel, Canadian Islamic Congress) provided an important critique before the House of Commons committees reviewing Bill C-36. Interviewed by Sama Elybaria.

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Episode Notes
An overview of international initiatives in the war on terrorism since September 11th including a summary of western national legislation on terrorism since 9/11.


Peter Leuprecht (Dean, Faculty of Law, McGill University) on the language of war.
Kate Martin (Center for National Security Studies, Washington DC) on American national security legislation, the US Patriot Act.
Bill Graham (Canadian Foreign Affairs Minister) on the international framework for Canada’s national security legislation and its obligations in the war on terror.
Amina Sherazee (Legal Counsel, Canadian Arab Federation) on the impact of 9/11 on immigration and refugee law.

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Episode Notes
Canada's state security structure since 9/11 and the United Nation’s international framework for national security including selections from the conference panel Does Bill C-36 give Police Too Many Powers? Panelists: Jean-Paul Brodeur, Paul Copeland, Gwen Boniface, moderated by Susan Eng.


Professor Reg Whitaker (Political Sciences, York University and University of Victoria) describes Canada’s security and law enforcement structure.
Gwen Boniface (OPP Commissioner and President of the Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police) argues that C-36 provides adequate preventative powers while respecting civil liberties.
Paul Copeland (Director, Law Society of Upper Canada) argues that the new policing powers are dangerous and unnecessary.
Joanna Weschler (UN Observer, Human Rights Watch, NYC) on the UN’s reaction to September 11th and the effect of its compulsory resolutions on national criminal legislation.

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