Hundreds in Saskatoon protest proposed anti-terror bill

Protesters chanted "kill the bill" and "Harper's gone way too far" as a procession of hundreds made its way through Saskatoon's downtown on Saturday.

The group gathered at Saskatoon City Hall to protest the federal government's proposed anti-terror legislation, Bill C-51. The bill would give new powers to police as well as Canada's spy agency.

"What's really at risk here is our ability to gather and express our opinion in opposition to what our government is doing. And what our government seems to be doing around the world and at home is dangerous," said Brandon Brown, a university student and one of the event organizers.

"We're creating enemies overseas. We're limiting our freedoms at home."

The large group listened to presentations against the bill from speakers such as lawyers, politicians and First Nations people before marching through the city's downtown. The protest's long procession of at least 300 blocked traffic at several intersections as the group headed towards the busy Midtown Plaza mall.

Dorothea Fisher said she participated because she grew up in Germany, where she and her family lived in fear of government spies.

"I am really, really tired of Harper lying to everybody and telling us we must have this bill," the senior citizen said. "I was there when they brought in the SA ... and that was sort of a secret service, and I tell you if you were doing something that wasn't up to par, as far as they were concerned, you've had it."

Fisher said she hopes all of the young people who attended the protest get out and vote when the time comes. 

"We had a hell of a time over there because the SA was always watching. So I know what it's like to have these secret bills that the public really has no control over because it's going to be all hush hush," Fisher said.

The Bill C-51 protest in Saskatoon ended at Conservative MP Kelly Block's office. 

Additional protests against Bill C-51 were held across Canada as a part of a national day of action.