Prime Minister Stephen Harper passionately defended anti-terrorist bill C-51 as a needed tool to enhance Canadian's security in an interview with CJAD radio in Montreal Thursday.
"We believe our agencies need more resources and more powers that are in line with what other security agencies have around the world," Harper told Aaron Rand.
Harper denied claims that the bill reduces freedoms.
"Why should our security agencies not be able to share information among each other on terrorist threats? Why should an agency like CSIS not be able to intervene in a threat before it actually comes to pass? Why should we not have standards on police bonds that allow police to approach people getting near to taking dangerous actions?" he asked.
"The freedoms we enjoy under the charter, association and speech are protected. The things we are taking action against are threats to our freedom. Promoting terrorism is not the exercise of freedom, it’s a threat to our freedom," he said.
Harper is in Montreal to accept the King David Award from the Jewish Community Council as a reward for being a staunch supporter of Israel.
Harper also noted that having the Liberals in power in Quebec makes things easier for the federal government. "I don’t think this is a secret that this government in Ottawa is much more comfortable with a federalist government in Quebec," he said.
The visit is seen as part of an ongoing effort by the Conservative Party to shore up its support in Quebec, where it currently has only five MPs, within one of them not planning to run again.
The Conservatives are hoping that Jewish support can win them win such seats at the Liberal stronghold of Mount Royal where Robert Libman hopes to snag it for the Conservatives for the first time since 1935.
One member of the Jewish Community Council said that many in the community might switch their support from the Liberals to the Conservatives thanks to Harper.
"The Prime Minister is incredibly popular in the Jewish community, so obviously when they take their turn to vote, he's certainly well supported within our community," Rabbi Saul Emanuel told CTV Montreal.
