Last week's arrests of 17 suspected terrorists in Toronto have got me worried. Not because I'm intimidated by the media's fear-mongering. Not because I fear there may be more like-minded Islamic extremists living in my country, even my own province, but because of the suspicious circumstances surrounding these arrests.

The 17 boys and men arrested were apparently involved in a plot to bomb Canadian landmarks, including the parliament buildings [1]. Though the Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS) has been investigating this group of alleged terrorists since 2004, after members supposedly posted "anti-western" messages on an Internet message board [2], it wasn't until last week that the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) attempted to sell them three tons of ammonium nitrate fertilizer [3] and arrested them.

The alleged terrorists never actually obtained any illegal materials, and a bag of fertilizer which had never been possessed by the suspects was brought in to make for a more convincing evidence photo in The Globe and Mail [4]. Among the actual evidence seized were electronics hobbyist tools like a multimeter and a soldering iron, found in many homes, and a cell phone with some wires and a circuit board. Michael Rivero of WhatReallyHappened.com notes "If you look closely, you can see that the wires aren't connected to anything, they are just draped over the cell phone and circuit board to create a pretty picture."

Rocco Galati, attorney for two of the accused, calls the charges against his clients "absolutely vague [and] oblique". "I believe these men are being rounded up as part of a political move to affect the judges," Galati said, in reference to an upcoming Supreme Court of Canada case involving evidentiary procedures in anti-terrorism cases [1].

The timing of these headline-stealing arrests does seem all-too convenient given the recent embarrassments suffered by Prime Minster Stephen Harper. From his strong words in response to a story about a proposed law in Iran intended to make Jews and Christians wear Nazi-esque badges on their clothing, later proved to be bogus, to his increasing filter for real questions at press conferences, it was very helpful for something to come along and make his government look good.

Indeed, Harper's statement on the arrests sounded like it was written by Karl Rove himself: "We are a target because of who we are and how we live, our society, our diversity and our values -- values such as freedom, democracy and the rule of law. The values that make Canada great, values that Canadians cherish." [5].

Some, however, would argue that we have become a target due to our government's increasing support of the Bush regime's Middle East misadventures.

It seems as though Canada's new Conservative government is already doing what many feared: turning us into the 51st state: America Junior. Federal Public Safety Minister Stockwell Day jumped on the terrorism arrests for some publicity, stating on CTV, "This type of action and the demonstration of what Canadian security forces can do in fact builds confidence, not just among Canadians, but among all of our allies." [5]. Oh, America, we just want you to like us.

And it's this policy that scares me more than groups of men that may or may not be terrorists. Like many Canadians, I voted the Liberal Party out of power because of their gross corruption after their 12-year run of virtually unchallenged waste and inefficiency, but I was well aware of the threat of becoming more Americanized under the Conservatives. I knew there was a risk, but surely someone in the government would challenge those who would have us lose what it is to be Canadian. How about the Liberals who managed to survive the election? Maybe the New Democrats will stand up for Canada? Maybe the Bloc Quebecois?

But now it's becoming all too clear that we Canadians are being incrementally led into the same police state of fear and ignorance that's been taking over our neighbor to the south since well before 9/11. Where voicing dissenting views, once protected by the same freedoms that supposedly make us a terrorist target, are now treated as a form of terrorism itself. Where owning a cell phone might make you a suspicious person, and an interest in electronics or chemistry may be grounds for arrest.

It's a slightly embarrassing fact about myself that I've never been outside of Canada. Sometimes my friends tease me about never having been in the US, but I know better: if I wait just a while longer, the US will be brought to me and all the rest of Canada.

Sources:

1. Canadian Muslims Condemn Alleged Bomb Plot, CNN, 6/4/06

2. Timeline: Probe into alleged terror plot began in 2004, CTV, 6/5/06

3. RCMP behind bomb material, Toronto Star, 6/4/06

4. Photo of items displayed during press conference, The Globe and Mail, 6/3/06

5. Raids prove that Canada not soft on terror, Day says, The Globe and Mail, 6/5/06