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Toronto police spied on gay community in 1980s: report

Last Updated: Thursday, May 17, 2007 | 11:32 AM ET

CBC News

Toronto police actively spied on members of the city's gay community throughout the 1980s, a report reveals.

A surveillance report leaked to CBC News details how Det. Garry Carter went undercover in the community, spying on bathhouse operators, attending conventions in Alberta and tracking gay candidates running for city council.

The detective even reported on how gay activists questioned the police budgets.

Coun. Kyle Rae, a vocal gay rights advocate, said the report confirms what many in the community had long suspected.

"We were seen as a subversive minority that was worthy of ridicule and violence against us by the police," said Rae. "It's part of the paranoia of the '70s and '80s. It's not appropriate, but I'm not surprised."

But Rae added that he doubts such surveillance would happen today, noting a vast improvement in relations between the gay community and police over the past decade.

Meanwhile, the Toronto Police Services Board, a civilian agency that oversees the police force, will meet later Thursday to decide whether to investigate officers involved in the surveillance and the leaking of the surveillance report.

Also revealed in the report was that in 1991, then chair of the Police Services Board Susan Eng, was spied on during her dealings with a close friend and political confidante.

This story is now closed to commenting.

Internal Links

Ex-head of police oversight board outraged over wiretaps

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