Beyond the Constitution: Analyzing the Effects of Critical Infrastructure Laws on Protestors, Citizens, and the Courts
Date
2023-02-13
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Abstract
This paper analyzes critical infrastructure laws as a policy tool of government. By creating a functional definition of them, locating where they exist in Canada and the US, and outlining in a literature review their history, this paper seeks to determine whether they may have unintended consequences beyond protecting infrastructure. This paper picks three distinct groups as case studies: peaceful protestors, general citizens, and the courts. It finds that, despite their success in protecting critical infrastructure, there is a risk that they chill peaceful protests, are impossible to always follow, and erode the legitimacy of the courts. The paper concludes with three recommendations that governments should consider to mitigate these risks.
Description
Keywords
Citation
Bilak, R. (2023). Beyond the Constitution: Analyzing the Effects of Critical Infrastructure Laws on Protestors, Citizens, and the Courts (Unpublished master's project). University of Calgary, Calgary, AB.