Protesters will be descending on Victoria Park in London this weekend as part of a national day of action against the Canadian government's proposed anti-terrorist bill.
On Saturday, residents will voice their concerns about Bill C-51 in a protest that is being supported by a number of human rights groups, including Amnesty International Canada.
Many protesters are concerned the bill will infringe upon the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, including censorship of free expression online. Protesters also believe the bill could turn the Canadian Security Intelligence Service into a secret police force with little oversight or accountability. The possibility of information sharing and surveillance of innocent Canadians has many people up in arms.
There are around 40 protests across Canada scheduled for Saturday.
Hilary Homes, a security and human rights campaigner for Amnesty International Canada, says the language in the bill has many people worried. She says much of the wording is too broad and many citizens want to see it "tightened up."
Homes says the government has to ensure human rights are taken into account.
"Governments do have a responsibility, a clear responsibility to protect their citizens from attacks and threats," she says. "Our point is that, yes there's that responsibility, but it's not at any cost. The government also has the responsibility to uphold their international human rights obligations."
Bill C-51 passed its second reading in February and has since been referred to the Standing Committee.
For more information on the national day of action, click here.