Security trumps rights, top court told
Jun. 14, 2006. 11:49 AM
CANADIAN PRESS


OTTAWA — Protecting national security is the key to maintaining a free and democratic society, say federal lawyers defending their arsenal of legal tools for evicting terrorist suspects from Canada.

Government counsel Bernard Laprade says security isn't just a nice thing to have — it's an absolute necessity if people are to enjoy all the liberties guaranteed by the Charter of Rights.

The comments came as Laprade appeared before the Supreme Court of Canada to defend the much-criticized deportation process for foreign-born terrorist suspects.

Some of the nine judges appeared reluctant to accept the claim that national security trumps everything else.

Justice Louis LeBel, for example noted that if Canadians have security but no individual liberties, they may as well be living in North Korea.

The court is reviewing the so-called security certificate system that provides for secret hearings and indefinite detention of non-citizens accused of having terrorist ties.