This week, Canadians are getting an unusual look at the kind of political muck-raking that's commonplace in the United States. It comes from an anonymous Twitter feed called Vikileaks, which comes with this description: "Vic wants to know about you... let's get to know Vic." The Vic in question is, of course, Vic Toews, Canada's Public Safety Minister. Earlier this week, he introduced bill C-30, the Protecting Children from Internet Predators Act. It would give authorities easier access to Canadians' on-line data. Today we ask, how much do we really want to know about our politicians?

---

Today's guest host was Jim Brown.

Part One of The Current

Satire

It's Friday, February 17th.

Researchers from Dalhousie University say that smoking marijuana before driving nearly doubles your chance of getting into an accident.

Currently, it also increases the likelihood you'll lead police on a very slow speed chase.

This is The Current.

Vikileaks - Panel

The people behind Vikileaks felt Canadians should have access to some of Toews own personal data, and sent out Tweets full of what are alleged to be details of his messy divorce in 2008. The revelations have a lot of people feeling uncomfortable.

But not Charlie Smith. He's the Editor of The Georgia Straight - a weekly newspaper in Vancouver. And he thinks the private lives of public figures should be fair game. Charlie Smith was in Vancouver.

We also included two more journalists into the conversation. Paul Samyn is the City Editor at The Winnipeg Free Press. He was in Winnipeg. And Susan Delacourt is a senior political writer with the Toronto Star. She was in Ottawa.

This half-hour segment was produced by The Current's Liz Hoath and Kristin Nelson.

Related Links:

• Anonymous Twitter user turns tables on Tory champion of e-snooping bill
  - The Globe and Mail
• Tweeter takes aim at Toews' Internet bill with flood of alleged details about MP's private life - The Winnipeg Free Press
  

  Other segments from today's show:

  • The Power of Introverts
  • Whither Campus Activism