David Fewer
For the first part of this week’s Spark (episode 156), we’re going to look at something called lawful access legislation. Now, I’m not going to lie to you. “Lawful access legislation” sounds like a bit of a snoozefest. But it’s not, I promise.
Lawful access refers to proposed legislation that could grant police new powers to intercept electronic communications. That, as you can imagine, is highly controversial.
The government has tried to pass new lawful access legislation before. The last attempt included three bills: C-50, C-51, and C-52, which all died on the order paper. So, when Parliament resumed this past week, it was widely expected that the government would try to update lawful access again. Privacy advocates were concerned that lawful access would be bundled up with several other crime-related bills, and turned into a single omnibus crime mega-bill.
Indeed, on Tuesday, September 20, the government introduced the Safe Streets and Communities Act. But in that bill, lawful access was nowhere to be seen. Groups like OpenMedia.ca chalked this up as a win, because lawful access will likely be introduced as a separate bill that will receive additional scrutiny.
So that’s where we are right now: still waiting for a piece of legislation that could have huge implications for Canadians’ online privacy.
As we were putting this week’s show together, we had a lot of questions. Why exactly do police feel they need new electronic surveillance powers? Could they really get into my email without a warrant? And what exactly are privacy advocates so worried about? For his take on this, Nora interviewed David Fewer, director of CIPPIC, the Canadian Internet Policy and Public Interest Clinic. You can hear the full, uncut interview below, or download the MP3. [runs 14:18]
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A mysterious omission is simply tactical. Without a discussion, admission, so on, we can only expect this bill to come back in a similar omnibus type fashion. This would have been bad, but Canadians should also be concerned with the rest of the omnibus, especially its legislation concerning young Canadians.
Warrantless Searches – Fed govt already has a warrantless search and seizure in place and it has been used. Would you believe that Health Canada can enter your house at any time without cause, completely and thoroughly search and mess up your house including searching your most private and personal areas, seeking harmless health supplements. In one example, the occupants of the house were held at gun point by the RCMP while Health Canada agents searched for harmless folic acid supplements, the occupants were treated as though they were drug dealers. While those interested in health supplements did their best to stop passage of the bill, the majority of Canadians had little interest, and still don't know about it. The point being, that if the fed govt has already passed such legislation, so the next one will perhaps be easier. As for Health Canada, well, they will do anything to maintain and build revenue levels for the Medical Industry, including the elimination of health supplements. Of course, health supplements save the universal medical care system millions of $ every year. No warrantless searches in Canada !!!
OMG, Jack Smyth, you are really naive if you beleived that Health Canada can enter your private residence without warrant. You tool!!!
Looks like the old jack boots will be brought out of the closet and shined up…