Nathan Cullen makes plans for telephone town hall on Bill C 51 and security issues

Skeena-Bulkley Valley MP, Nathan Cullen wants residents of the Northwest to circle June 16th on their calendars, that is when he will be holding a telephone town hall to discuss Bill C-51, a controversial bit of legislation from the Federal Government that will provide unprecedented powers to a number of Government Departments, Police Forces across the country and CSIS the nations Spy Agency.

Much of the concern related to that Bill has been in the way the Conservative government introduced it and then kept debate and discussion to a minimum on its way to Commons approval, with the Conservatives and Liberals voting in favour, the NDP against. 

It is expected to become law before Parliament takes its summer break starting on June 23rd.

In a household mailer to the residents of Skeena-Bulkley Valley this week, the MP outlines his belief that "this bill endangers many of the basic rights and freedoms that all Canadians hold dear."

The purpose of his Telephone town hall, to further deliver his thoughts on the issue and to take questions from the public on the nature of the legislation and what impact it may have on the day to day lives of Canadians.

Those looking to participate can call in at 6 PM on Tuesday, June 16th through the toll free number of 1-877-229-8493  Using the ID Code of 112621

You can review the path to this point of the Bill in Ottawa from the Parliament of Canada home page.

To prepare you for Mr. Cullen's Telephone Town Hall, below is some background on the nature of Bill C-51 and the political discussion that it has spawned:

The prelude and passing of the Bill

National Post -- House of Commons passes controversial anti-terror bill - putting it on track to become law by summer

National Post -- Bill C 51 state of play: Everything you need to know about the debate over Harper's controversial anti-terror act

CBC -- Stephen Harper stresses importance of Anti-Terrorism Act during Montreal visit

CBC -- Bill C-51 passes in House of Commons

The Tyee -- Sorry Liberals, 'Oversight' won't fix menace of a Terror Bill

The Tyee -- How Bill C-51 Eviscerates Privacy Protection

Maclean's -- Critics Fear Bill C-51 could lead to unintended consequences

Globe and Mail -- Bill C-51: Soon to be law and as murky as ever

Globe and Mail -- Conservative anti-terror bill passes final vote with Liberal support

Globe and Mail -- Privacy, security and terrorism: Everything you need to know about Bill C-51

Global News -- With Support from Liberals, Conservatives pass controversial anti-terror bill

Some of the reaction since the Bill passed:

Terrace Standard -- Cullen takes swing at Trudeau over anti-terror bill
Global BC -- Conservative groups' last minute plea to Harper: Stop C-51

Toronto Star -- The global debate over security and privacy may yet wound PM

CBC -- C-51 could trigger NDP-Liberal coalition, conservative critics warn

CBC -- Bill C-51: How Trudeau's support of the anti-terror bill could help the NDP

Vancouver Sun-- Award-winning library director calls terrorism bill this generation's 'most repressive'  legislation

The Tyee -- Kill C-51 or Risk a Fractured Base, Right-wingers Tell Tories

As the date for Mr. Cullen's Telephone Town Hall gets closer more background on the event can be found from his Constituency home page or Facebook page 

For more items from Mr. Cullen's work at the House of Commons and other notes from the Skeena-Bulkley Valley riding see our archive page here.

Cross posted from the North Coast Review