<strong>Written By:</strong> sthompson
<strong>Date:</strong> 2007-07-05 12:29:00
<a href="/article/122951514-oppose-the-nofly-list">Article Link</a>

The Globe and Mail editorial board has written, "People whose names are on the list erroneously, or whose names are similar to one of the 2,000 or so names on the list, will be inconvenienced at best and in jeopardy at worst...There are no assurances that the names on the list won't be shared abroad, a prospect that inescapably recalls the fate of Canadian citizen Maher Arar, who was detained at a U.S. airport and shipped off to torture in Syria...The commissioners have the right idea: Suspend the list. Let a parliamentary committee examine the justification for the program and any evidence - evidence that has yet to be provided - that the no-fly list would make the skies safer. At the moment, it's a dubious proposition."

The no-fly list is very much a Security and Prosperity Partnership initiative. The "Security and Prosperity Partnership of North America Report to Leaders, August 2006" outlines 105 SPP initiatives. Initiative 93 states, "Develop, test, evaluate and implement a plan to establish comparable aviation passenger screening, and the screening of baggage and air cargo (for North America)." Under the "key milestones" with this initiative the report states, "Develop comparable standards and procedures within 24 months (June 2007) for passenger screening to increase aviation security."

For more information on this issue, you can read Maude Barlow's January 2007 Toronto Star editorial "Time to review Canada's security links with U.S.: With our no-fly list set to go into effect, Ottawa is moving closer to meshing security operations with Washington, despite its poor human rights' record".

ACTION

Chapter activists are encouraged to write Prime Minister Stephen Harper at [email protected] and tell him that the no-fly list should be suspended and that a parliamentary committee should hold public hearings on this matter. You are also encouraged to write a letter to the editor and raise these concerns on the pages of your local newspaper. Click here to send your letter to the Prime Minister from our site and click here for a form to submit your letter to the editor.

DRAFT MESSAGE

Prime Minister Harper,

As a member of the Council of Canadians, I am deeply concerned about the Government of Canada's new no-fly list, which is part of the Security and Prosperity Partnership of North America. Recently, federal, provincial and territorial privacy guardians have called for the suspension of this list. They have urged you to refer the matter to a parliamentary committee that can hold public hearings on this issue. I am concerned that the no-fly list will be shared with foreign governments that do not respect human rights and about the risk of "false positives", in other words names that appear on the no-fly list in error or because they are similar to those of people who have been identified as a risk. I am also concerned that although the federal privacy commissioner has asked Transport Canada for studies or other evidence that no-fly lists improve airline security, no such studies or evidence have ever been provided. I join with others in calling for the suspension of the no-fly list and for public hearings to examine the justification for this program.

Sincerely,

Brent Patterson, Director of Organizing, The Council of Canadians

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The Council of Canadians
700-170 Laurier Avenue West, Ottawa, ON K1P 5V5.
Tel: (613) 233-2773; Toll-free: 1-800-387-7177
Fax: (613) 233-6776
[email protected]
<a href="http://www.canadians.org">www.canadians.org</a>

   

"Remarkably, as the Ottawa Citizen reports, "The best way to avoid future inconvenience and embarrassment is to change their son's name, the parents were told (by the airlines)."

I heard that on the news, and thought to myself 'Self, isn't that exactally what a terrorist would do after (s)he's used an alias once?'

What is the point of this folly again?

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The preceding comment deals with mature subject matter, however immaturely presented. Viewer discretion is advised.

   

Rather than simply send mr. Fascist a letter of complaint (he ain't exactly counting on your particular vote anyway) why don't we all formally request to be put ON the no-fly list?

I personally have no intentions of ever flying to the US again, under the current fascist regime, anyway, and I have no plans of using our ridiculously over-priced airline system either, not to mention wanting to avoid the heavy carbon emission hit of it, so I'd rather just make it official.

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“The war is not meant to be won, it is meant to be continuous, the essential act of warfare is the destruction of the produce of human labour”

   

Here, here!

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Dave Ruston

   

I second the Here, Here....

Great Idea....

   

Sgt ShockNAwe

That is hillarious and a great idea. Everyone break the system by requesting
they be put ON the no-fly-list. No-fly of course for reasons other than the ones
it's designed for. HAHAHA. That's tickled me. Millions phoning in "I want to be
put on the no-fly-list as a maybe one day I could be a terrorist." Overwhelm
them, shocknawe em!

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"The most sustainable product is the one you never bought in the first place."
Alex Steffan

   

It's a good idea, only one hitch.

This list is for flying, travelling by train, ferry and probabally bus - domestically. If you want to travel within Canada, you can't be on this list.

I don't want to drive everywhere I go. This list must be scrapped entirely.

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The preceding comment deals with mature subject matter, however immaturely presented. Viewer discretion is advised.

   

As anact of civil disobedience it is beautifll!
One way to throw a spanner into the works is to weigh the system down by compliance

A thing the myriads of pot smokers ought to adopt

Crush the system by its own foolishness
Bad law and bad ideas can and shouls be challenged

"I" AM Spartacus!
Ghandi was on the same page, if you get the drift

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I gazed at every mirror on the planet, not one gave back my reflection - Jorge Luis Borges

   

No, I am Spartacus.

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“The war is not meant to be won, it is meant to be continuous, the essential act of warfare is the destruction of the produce of human labour”