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takyon writes:

http://m.theregister.co.uk/2015/08/22/social_media_driving_change_in_canada/

As Canadians settle in for the longest general election campaign since 1867, some uncomfortable incidents that had been ignored by commercial media outlets are gaining new exposure... A veritable who's who of Canadian protest and civil liberties groups became active in protesting against the pipelines, both online and off. It dragged on for years, and protests are still ongoing. Information emerged that said one of Canada's spy agencies – Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS) – allegedly spied on the protesters and then allegedly illegally shared information about the protesters with the National Energy Board (NEB). NEB is the government entity tasked with overseeing environmentally sensitive projects such as oil pipelines. The NEB succumbed to industry capture years ago and now blatantly operates as nothing more than an extension of the energy companies themselves.

The reason everyone is freaking out about spooks spying on protesters is because bill C-51 – Canada's version of the US Patriot Act or the UK Snooper's Charter – gives the government the right to have protesters declared terrorists. Once declared a terrorist, for all intents and purposes one no longer has rights. [...] The BC pipeline protest events have served for many Canadians as confirmation of our worst fears. The sweeping powers granted in bill C-51 – which include the right to snoop on Canadian citizens electronically – will be abused, and they will be abused in short order.

Public support for bill C-51 has never been great, but these events are keeping the issue front of mind. Public outrage has already cost the Liberal party dearly. Many felt betrayed when Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau pushed his party vote for the bill, and even more so when he attempted to defend his actions after the fact. This, combined with a historic NDP victory at the provincial level in Alberta (which had previously had a 43-year-long Conservative dynasty) has moved the NDP to the top of the federal polls. The NDP have never before formed a federal government in Canada.

With the election taking place in October, this might all have blown over. Both the Conservatives and the Liberals wish the pipeline protests and any mention of bill C-51 would go away. The Duffy trial (alleged senate expenses improprieties and alleged lies by pretty much everyone in the Prime Minister's Office) is scandal enough for this election.

Canada's political dynasties, however, can't seem to get a break. Those nasty protesters and their whole "caring about civil liberties" just won't go away. The new citizenship law (which is as horrible as it sounds) is being challenged on constitutional grounds. Social media is abuzz with people pointing to alleged abuses of power, such as the protest affair, and it didn't take long before the general assumption became that the Conservatives will abuse bill C-24 to discriminate against minorities.

[...] Canadians, however, aren't waiting around for this to happen. Online civil liberties movements Leadnow.ca and Openmedia.ca are seeing membership and engagement treble ahead of the election. Ordinary Canadians are starting to realize that the Canadian Civil Liberties Association exists, and actually does things from time to time. Strategic voting has moved from an esoteric fringe consideration to something discussed in the mainstream media and by many Canadians in their own homes. Even political considerations such as gerrymandering are receiving popular mindshare that a decade ago would have been unthinkable.

The internet has changed Canadian politics. Issues like the alleged wrongdoing regarding the pipeline protests don't simply go away. They are resurrected for impassioned discussion in light of new laws and judicial rulings, and this is happening outside of academia.

Original Submission