Wild Rose Conservative MP Blake Richards – whose riding includes Sundre, Olds, Didsbury, Cremona and Carstairs – says his newly passed private member's bill will help protect the public at large and help police by preventing rioters from wearing masks.In a Gazette interview, Richards said Bill C-319, the Concealment of Identity Act, “fills a hole in Canadian law that is being exploited by violent criminals.”“My first hope is it will help prevent problems from happening in the first place,” said Richards. “When someone has to consider the fact that there is now a punishment for participating in a riot when they are wearing a disguise they might think twice about wearing the disguise, which will make them think twice about starting trouble to begin with.“I see this as something that can happen in any community in Canada. Certainly it is not confined to large centres; we've seen it happen in smaller communities too.”Passed by a 153-126 margin in the House on Oct. 31, Bill C-309 creates two new Criminal Code offences.The first is an indictable offence targeting those who take part in a riot while wearing a mask or disguise to conceal their identity, without lawful excuse. The maximum penalty on indictment (the more serious criminal process) for that offence is 10 years in prison.The second is a hybrid offence, targeting those who participate in an unlawful assembly while wearing a mask or disguise to conceal identity, without lawful excuse.The maximum penalty on indictment for that offence would be five years, and on summary conviction six months imprisonment and/or a maximum fine of $5,000.Richards first introduced Bill C-309 in October of 2011. In May, Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada Rob Nicholson announced the government was supporting the legislation.“Similar legislation is in place in the United States, Great Britain and France. Approval of this legislation in Canada is a victory for all of us who witnessed the devastation of the Toronto, Vancouver and Montreal riots and demanded better for our fellow citizens,” he said.Richards' bill has not received universal approval. During the debate over the legislation, New Democrat MP Charmaine Borg reportedly said she believes the law stymies civil liberties.“This bill takes away an individual's right to demonstrate anonymously,” said Borg. “An individual is not necessarily going to commit a crime just because he or she is wearing a mask at a riot. It is reasonable to think that the person just wants to remain anonymous and protect his or her identity.”Richards says Borg is mistaken.“I couldn't disagree with her more,” Richards. “I think it does the complete opposite.”The prohibition on wearing disguises does not apply to peaceful demonstrations, he said.“If it's a lawful gathering, people have the right to wear a disguise. Where people are disturbing the peace it is now illegal,” he said.Richards says he is also pleased that his private member's bill was able to become law, since such bills are very rarely passed into law.“It's a fairly big accomplishment,” he said.
