Is $120,000 middle class? NDP and Liberals aren #39;t sure
Peter Julian and Dominic Leblanc keep saying middle class... but they aren #39;t sure who that is.
By: Michelle Bennett
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Is $120,000 middle class? NDP and Liberals aren't sure - Video
The Liberals are ready to support the governments upcoming anti-terrorism legislation that will curtail freedoms in the name of national security, while continuing to push for increased oversight of Canadas intelligence services.
The party has struggled to explain its position against the military deployment in Iraq and Liberal officials said they now want to avoid being outflanked by the Conservatives on the domestic fight against terrorism.
In an interview, Liberal public safety critic Wayne Easter said his party has voted for the governments past anti-terrorism legislation and is willing to support the next round of measures, barring a poison pill in the bill that will be unveiled Friday.
If they are reasonable in what they are presenting on the expansion of this legislation, we are reasonable people, the Liberal MP said. If the government is sensible about it, and trying to fight terrorism rather than playing politics, then we will be supportive.
Mr. Easter added the Liberals would call for extended parliamentary hearings to get expert testimony on the legislations impact. Still, the early endorsement of anti-terrorism legislation differentiates the Liberal Party from the NDP, which is waiting for the publication of the bill before announcing its colours.
Pollster Bruce Anderson of Abacus Data said the Liberals willingness to vote for increased anti-terrorism measures in Canada suggest a desire to distance themselves from the NDP more than from the Conservatives. He said its not been a successful one politically, for the Liberals, to have opposed the mission [in Iraq].
Prime Minister Stephen Harper said the legislation would help authorities stop planned attacks, get threats off our streets, criminalize the promotion of terrorism and prevent terrorists from travelling and recruiting others. The Globe and Mail reported last week the proposed law would seek to lower the legal thresholds used for some preventive police powers, while expanding the criteria that would allow officials to blacklist people on the Canadian governments no-fly list.
Mr. Easter acknowledged the Liberal opposition to the mission against Islamic State forces in Iraq, including the deployment of six fighter jets, has been received negatively in some circles. There is a huge misconception out there about our position on [IS], he said, arguing the Liberals simply wanted a different contribution from the Canadian government, with more focus on humanitarian aid.
Liberal officials said the party now wants to avoid getting boxed in on the issue of the fight against terrorism on Canadian soil. The Liberals enacted anti-terrorism legislation after the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, and continued to support government measures in opposition.
Still, Mr. Easter added the Liberal Party would like to see the creation of an oversight mechanism that would involve MPs, based in part on the British model where legislators have access to classified information to supervise the work of the countrys spies. He said Canada is the only member of the Five Eyes group of allied intelligence services which includes the United States, Britain, Australia and New Zealand without a strong role for parliamentary oversight.
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Liberals prepared to back Tories anti-terrorism bill
CTV Montreal Published Wednesday, January 28, 2015 7:10AM EST Last Updated Wednesday, January 28, 2015 10:08AM EST
In Quebec City, the Liberal caucus wrapped up a two-day meeting preparing for the upcoming session of the National Assembly.
Despite opposition calls for more economic stimulus, the Liberals said they have already put measures in place and now its just a matter of time.
Premier Philippe Couillard also explained he is close to the big goal of returning to budgetary balance this coming session.
To do that, he will need to cut another $1 billion. Couillard said he's looking everywhere to trim, but he pledged taxpayers won't have to pay more.
We are looking everywhere for savings, said Couillard,not only savings, but opportunities to do better.
Last week, Couillard was attacked by the PQ for being marked by Saudi values, a reference to the time he spent working in Saudi Arabia 20 years ago. He said the experience gave him insight.
It allowed me to feel what it means to be the foreigner, said Couillard,to feel what it means not to have the same colour of skin as the majority.
He added that the Liberals will introduce legislation on secularism this year.
On immigration issues, they will soon hold hearings on major reforms. Quebec wants to give employers more of a say.
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Liberals say austerity plan is set
OTTAWA-
The Liberals say they will only support the government's upcoming terror bill if it includes oversight mechanisms for security agencies.
Despite the government's caginess on its contents, information leaked to media indicates it will broadly expand police surveillance powers. It will also outlaw the nebulous-sounding "promotion of terror."
The bill is expected to be tabled Friday.
Speaking earlier this week following a meeting of the House public safety committee, Liberal public safety critic Wayne Easter said those laws already exist - from preventative arrests and peace bonds to outlawing anyone who's gone abroad to participate in terrorism from trying to return.
"One key question is: Why have current laws not been utilized to the full extent we think they should be?"
On Wednesday, Easter said the Liberals remain "very open to what the government will propose."
Easter denied this might mean the party is softening its stance on Canada's military involvement in Iraq. The Liberals voted against sending fighter jets to assist in airstike against the Islamic State there.
"No, this is not a shift at all," he said. "We do think there should be a different strategy employed, one with the emphasis on humanitarian aid."
But the Liberals have a "serious caveat on this bill," he said, "and that is that there needs to be proper oversight of security agencies."
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Liberals say they're open to upcoming Tory terror bill
Egyptian Liberals Demand Mubarak Face Court Over Attack by Supporters on Camels
Liberal Egyptian parties filed new judicial complaints against ousted former ruler Hosni Mubarak on Sunday, including over a deadly camel charge against prot...
By: WochitGeneralNews
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Egyptian Liberals Demand Mubarak Face Court Over Attack by Supporters on Camels - Video