 
Emergency Bill Undergoes Substantial Amendments In the wake of a CCLA presentation to a legislative committee at Queen's Park, emergency measures proposed for Ontario have undergone substantial changes. As originally written, the Bill created a host of sweeping new powers that could be invoked after the government declared a state of emergency. But there were relatively few safeguards to address the interests of civil liberties. After CCLA general counsel Alan Borovoy appeared before an Ontario legislative committee during the fall, amendments and safeguards were added. The new measures include: a requirement that the least intrusive measures be adopted; a reduction in the initial emergency period from 45 days to 14 days; a more detailed reporting requirement; the elimination of warrantless entry powers; and a provision for liability in the event that intentional torts are committed by government or its agents. Despite these successes, CCLA was unable to persuade the committee to endorse the idea of independent audits for the use of the emergency powers. | CCLA In The Schools | Join Us | Feedback | Search | Other Interesting Sites | Home |
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