I received this from “Disgusted” who, for some reason, isn’t able get a comment to take at Isaac Brock:
Ottawa slyly expanding its power to invade our privacy
…Bill C-13 is the child of C-30, which was abandoned by the government after previous public safety minister Vic Toews said his Liberal critic could “either stand with us or with the child pornographers.”
Unlike C-30, C-13 does not require service providers to hand over personal information to police without a warrant, but it allows them to do so, which, in practical terms, is the same thing.
This will provide legal cover for what they are already doing. Last month the privacy commissioner reported that in 2011, government agencies requested data from telecoms and social media companies more than a million times.
What kind of data? The government won’t say. Conservative MPs recently voted down an NDP motion to make public the number of warrantless disclosures from telecom firms. When asked about this in the House, Public Safety Minister Steven Blaney and Justice Minister Peter MacKay give misleading answers, blathering on about warrants when none are required and giving assurances that contradict the legislation. This week, Revenue Minister Kerry-Lynne Findlay joined with them in disingenuity when she responded to a question in the House about a clause buried in C-31, a massive budget omnibus bill.
The bill will allow Canada Revenue Agency officials to give taxpayer information to police if officials have “reasonable grounds to believe” that certain offences have been committed.
Blacklock’s Reporter, an Ottawa-based website that covers the federal government, reported that, according to lawyers and police, this would allow any clerk at the CRA to hand confidential information to any police officer on a fishing expedition with no paper trail.
Currently, tax information can only be released by a judge. If the Tories pass this clause unamended, it will no longer be judges making that call, but CRA officials, which is scary.
When NDP MP Murray Rankin asked Findlay about this in the House, though, she scoffed.
“Let me be clear,” she said. “Information cannot be shared on the mere suspicion of criminal activity or based on a request initiated by law enforcement authorities.”
That’s not what the bill says.
When the Chronicle Herald sought an explanation, the Finance Department pointed to the threat of child porn, which just doesn’t make sense.
The government is stealthily expanding its legal authority to secretly invade Canadians’ privacy on a massive scale. When called on to explain, it is disingenuous. When cornered, it points to child pornography.
The potential for abuse is shocking. The only thing preventing dirty tricks is the good character of our police, spies and politicians.
Your computer and phone are open to secret warrantless intrusion without oversight or accountability.
@Polly
**As for the bill being “passed” – I thought FATCA already was a law and that it is only waiting for implementation?**
Its the law in the US but not in Canada… But as someone from the canadian gov’t states… Congress has spoken… did I miss a day in school when Canada got a Congress…. Bopp can start legal action anytime because the law has been enacted… Not sure of all the legal mumbo jumbo. No employee in the banks did anything wrong except obey the laws of their land… but didn’t u hear… US thinks it owns everything & US law is the supreme law?
@Publius
If u don’t declare amount under 10,000 when entering the US… they find it… they can take it & make u jump through hoops to get it back…. Also, the rule use to be per adult person… now it seems to be per family… then I heard its per group traveling together…. which makes no sense if u are in a tour group… We are all guilty until the US decides we are not cause we immigrants have no rights or citizens who left.
@US_Person_Foreigner
I`m hoping that Bopp could help us all! If FATCA can be deemed unconstitutional, then it would have to be scrapped or strongly revised. And if the size of penalties needs to be reviewed and made more humane- all the better for that issue as well.
I actually wonder how many members of congress wouldn’t secretly be glad if the law was somehow abolished without having to lose face, because it is such a bad law for the US economy. Unless of course the grand plan is to tax the whole world…..
@Polly
I am hoping that Bopp would put a stop to this stealing of funds… U know that old piece of paper which is similar to our charter rights in the States… pretty sure there is a section that don’t allow us to be taxed until we are flat broke.
U have a innocent view of the US gov’t who are suppose to protect us like I use to have for the canadian gov’t… People who are elected don’t give a crap for anyone but themselves & for anyone who can help them. We don’t count… I voted u in… I am going to help vote u out… I will speak my mind… I will not hush & just take it… To the ones who don’t vote… u harm no one but yourselves if u take that stance… vote all the traitors out… I would vote for a frigging chimp before I vote for someone who thought this deal was good & that US gov’t has spoken for them in Canada
@US_Person_Foreigner
Yeah- I think Bopp said something to the effect that the protection of the US constitution is afforded to US citizens wherever they live- that expats should be protected by it just as well as homelanders. At least that is how it should be. I really LIKE this guy.
Living in Canada and watching what is going on in the United States is probably what it was like to live in Austria in the 1930’s when the Nazis were taking over Germany. You know you country is going to be next!
@Polly
I like James Bopp , too and the three legs of his litigation I think have a good chance in court.
I wish they would hurry up!
@furiousAC
Absolutely. Me too. I honestly think they might have a good chance at accomplishing something. 🙂