There are a lot of reasons to be grateful to be an American. For all our nations’ ongoing issues – a senile President, a corrupt Congress, uncontrolled borders, major cities slipping into a new dark age – at least we aren’t (yet) being tossed in jail for something we might do.
That may not be the case in Canada much longer.
Justin Trudeau’s government has proposed a law giving judges the power to put someone under house arrest if they fear they could commit a hate crime.
Critics have warned the “draconian” bill is an overreach of power and could stifle free speech and difficult discussions.
But Canada’s justice minister defended the measure, claiming it would be an “important” tool to help protect potential victims.
An online harms bill introduced by the Liberals last week proposed a string of laws to protect children and prosecute hate crimes.
One of the suggested measures would give judges the ability to put people under house arrest who they worry could commit a hate crime in the future. The person could also be made to wear an electronic tag if the attorney-general requested it.