GOVERNMENT CHALLENGED ON MARINE SECURITY PROGRAMH

The Canadian Civil Liberties Association has called upon the federal minister of transport to amend the government's new program for the security clearance of port workers. Under the program, port workers could be denied such clearance - and therefore be removed from their jobs - if there was "reason to suspect" that they would constitute a threat to Canada's national security.

CCLA particularly questioned the kind of redress that would be available to those marine workers who faced employment discharge as a result of the program. In a letter to the minister, CCLA General Counsel Alan Borovoy and public safety Project Director Graeme Norton noted the absence of external review of government decisions. "Reconsideration" would be handled by officials of the ministry. Borovoy and Norton also argued that those marine workers who have never been convicted of a relevant crime should be entitled to good faith efforts by the government to find them alternate jobs if they are denied security clearance. If no such jobs can be found, the CCLA representatives urged that the government provide financial compensation. To date, the minister has not budged.