By Kevin Parkinson

Paul Martin hasn't taken over as prime minister yet and I'm already starting to get concerned. Martin told the world on November 26, 2003 that he would be creating a Department of Homeland Security very soon. Unfortunately, this will be remembered as a dark day in Canada's history.

The name, "homeland security," is a clone of the United States' infamous department that was created after the 9/11 tragedy. Infamous, because the rights and freedoms of Americans have gone the way of the dinosaur. Basic rights and freedoms that were enshrined in the American Constitution have been ignored and tossed aside, even though the Constitution cannot legally be changed. That's the whole point of having a constitution- so that governments cannot change it, willy nilly, to further their own ends.

The official story according to Martin tells us that the Homeland Security Department will become an umbrella organization under which CSIS, RCMP, Canadian Customs, emergency team and the coast guard will fall. Many people think this is just a structural change of government agencies. However, I believe that this department will be given special powers and will erode, and even eliminate many of the rights and freedoms we take for granted in Canada.

If we look at the U.S. model which was established shortly after 9/11, what we discover is that American lives have been changed forever. It is not the structural changes that are the source of unease; it is the arbitrary power that this new department has been given. Our Canadian department will undoubtedly replicate the American model.

The revised "Patriot Act 2" declares that any criminal activity can be considered an act of terrorism. Upon the whim of the police and the courts a criminal act can now be considered a threat to national security. Once the "terrorism" label is pinned on someone, then they can forget about their constitutional rights. A website owner, for example, could exercise his constitutional right in disagreeing with the government. Now, Homeland Security can declare that the owner is a "terrorist", arrest him at 3:00 am at his home, and incarcerate him indefinitely without a charge. This example is now a reality in the United States!

Police can conduct searches without a warrant, and suspects can be held indefinitely without bail. Suspects lose their rights to contact lawyers, family or friends and may just "disappear". Furthermore, under the new act in the U.S. you can be considered a terrorist if you reveal the whereabouts of a suspect who has been detained. Take a look at what's happening in the military environment at Guantanamo Bay, and that's a preview of what's coming to the Fascist States of America. Big Brother isn't coming to a neighbourhood near you any longer- he's arrived!

If the creation of Homeland Security becomes an election issue, this is when I part company with the Liberal government. Up until now Prime Minister Chretien has resisted the disturbing Bush government's trend of removing rights and freedoms. It is even more important than ever to resist the agenda of the police state to our south.

Paul Martin is a committed capitalist and owner of Canada Steamship Lines. Already we are told that he has re-flagged his ships with South American countries and has hired cheaper,foreign workers over Canadians. Furthermore, he keeps company with the likes of Maurice Strong, Canadian oil billionaire and James Wolfensohn, Bilderberger and head of the World Bank. Both of these men have deep Rockefeller connections, and without question espouse the New World Order and all of its trappings.

I predict that Bush and Martin will be seen in a smiling photo op sometime soon and that could lead to huge problems for Canada. With the new "united right" as the our other political party, we really don't have much choice. I'm not ready for a "one party state" but we seem to be running out of options in Canada.