Ryan Alford
Ryan Alford spoke 2 times across 1 day of testimony.
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Ryan Alford, Professor (CCF and Alford)
Good morning, Commissioner. May I be heard?
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Ryan Alford, Professor (CCF and Alford)
Thank you. Ryan Alford, Professor of Law at the Bora Laskin Faculty of Law, Lakehead University. In its opening statement, the Government of Canada stated it had a reasonable basis for declaring a Public Order Emergency. Unfortunately, a reasonable basis is not necessarily a legal, let alone a constitutional basis for assuming unprecedented and destructive emergency powers. I would like to briefly quote in part the correct legal standard in these circumstances for threats to the security of Canada that constitute a Public Order Emergency. Quote: "Activities within or relating to Canada directed toward or in support of the threat or use of acts of serious violence..." Not tied to serious acts of violence in some fashion. Not in conjunction with, or somehow associated in some fashion with. Rather, directed toward or in support of the threat or use of acts of serious violence. We are here to receive in public the evidence from the Government of Canada related to the correct legal standard for the proclamation of a Public Order Emergency, and the rule of law requires nothing less. Thank you, Commissioner.