Oct.

13, 2014
570 Cowan Rd.
Bowen Island, B.C.
Canada V0N 1G2
laceyjoneill@gmail.com

The Right Honourable Stephen Harper
Prime Minister of Canada
House of Commons
Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0A6

Dear Mr. Stephen Harper.

My name is Lacey ONeill and I am a grade 9 student attending Rockridge Secondary School. In social
studies we are debating Bill C-309 which states that people in groups of five or more who are wearing
masks in riots of protest are to be arrested and jailed for up to ten years, and if we believe that it is wrong
or right. I believe it is wrong on the basis of freedom of speech, the mask itself, and facts of terrorism.

Bill C-309 takes away freedom of speech from everyday people by forcing them to attend protests
unmasked. People and protesters that are unmasked are at risk. Risk of being judged for their personal
opinions, maybe fired from their jobs, under certain circumstances even disowned from their families.
Although that may not be important to you or effect you at all, it does mean that for people to protest they
have to be willing to risk things. The outcome of this being that many people will be forced to remain
silent.

The mask itself may mean different things to different people, but I believe it stands for an idea. As
illustrated in the movie V for Vendetta which features a character wearing the Guy Fawkes mask, the
mask stands for an Idea. The Guy Fawkes mask is a popular mask to use when protesting because Guy
Fawkes had an idea. An idea of corruption being made right, and did what he could to create change. The
subject of the idea is usually government not supporting the people, therefore, when citizens take things
into their own hands to fix the problem it is considered terrorism. The protesters that have been rioting for
climate change have been seen with Guy Fawkes masks, but if the Guy Fawkes mask represented
terrorism, how would that help their cause? Would destroying property and hurting people really help their
cause? Or, would wearing a sign of change help their cause?

The mask is often associated with terrorism and is a big reason why Bill C-309 exists today. Though I
believe that to be wrong. Although the Guy Fawkes mask represents the face of a terrorist, a terrorist that
attempted to blow up what he didnt agree with, I dont believe it is being used as such nowadays. Like I
said earlier I believe the mask is being used as the face of change, rather than the face of terrorism and
destruction. If people really wanted to wear a message of violence then they could wear 9/11 shirts,
burning, smoking twin towers across their chests. During 9/11 the terrorists didnt wear masks because
they were going to die anyway. Perhaps if they intended to survive they would have thought ahead and
worn masks. If they had been wearing masks, why would they be wearing them? To keep themselves
safe, even if it is from righteous judgement. After the Boston Marathon Bombing on April 15, 2013,
goalies for the local team had goalie masks made in honor of the victims of the bombing. If they were
worn during a protest, would they have been considered threats to government?

Thank you for taking the time to read this, and could you please consider discontinuing Bill C-309.

Sincerely

Lacey ONeill