The federal justice minister is downplaying suggestions a new law targeting foreign interference could be used to stifle political dissent.
The bill’s sabotage provision focuses on acts against essential infrastructure like systems that enable transportation or communications, or support delivery of health and food services.
Justice Minister Arif Virani tried to play down suggestions the proposed new sabotage offence would allow authorities to break up pipeline protests or dismantle rail blockades.
The government says the sabotage offence would not apply to legitimate protest if there is no intent to cause the serious harms spelled out in the bill.