From sleeper cells to three-sided cells: Justifications for security certificates expressed during the debate on Bill C-3

Hassan Almrei, seul individu visé par un certificat de sécurité qui soit encore détenu (cela fera 7 ans en octobre 2008)

Abstract: When one reads the debates in Canada’s House of Commons concerning Bill C-3, the bill to institute a new security certificate regime, it becomes apparent that one of the major arguments used to justify security certificates is the presumed existence of “sleeper cells”. The basic premise is that security certificates are needed in order to quickly deport non-citizens who have not committed any criminal acts, nor even conspired to commit criminal acts, but who adhere to an ideology that might someday lead them to commit terrorist acts or who have connections with foreign terrorist organizations.

In short, the explicit rationale for security certificates is that they are needed to get rid of foreigners suspected of holding beliefs that might possibly lead them to commit terrorist acts, but who have never actually committed or conspired to commit a terrorist act in Canada. Insofar as security certificates are based primarily on suspected evil intentions and possible terrorist ideological leanings, rather than on tangible criminal actions, it is virtually impossible for the person held under a certificate to prove his innocence.

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From sleeper cells to three-sided cells: Justifications for security certificates expressed during the debate on Bill C-3