Thursday, June 18, 2009

You Might Be Next



After months of making loud noises about yet another 'law and order' bill, the government will introduce legislation allowing law enforcement access to internet providers.

Police will be given new powers to eavesdrop on Internet-based communications as part of a contentious government bill, to be announced Thursday, which Public Safety Minister Peter Van Loan has said is needed to modernize surveillance laws crafted during "the era of the rotary phone."

The proposed legislation would force Internet service providers to allow law enforcement to tap into their systems to obtain information about users and their digital conversations.


Sorry. You want to snoop around in Canadians personal files, a warrant seems a reasonable place to start.

That said, what really gets to me about this and almost all of the legislation brought forward by this government, is the posture it assumes. It's always framed in a way that enables them to attack anyone that might disagree or oppose the legislation in the most odious manner. Obviously, no one is for child porn, but that sort of idiotic line is always touted by this government when faced with opposition.

So, here we are in the dying days of this sitting and the 'tough guys' are bringing out yet another, round 'em up and lock 'em up, piece of legislation that will go nowhere right now.

Why now?

Well there's nothing like talking about evil doers and their supporters over a hot dog on the BBQ circuit over the summer, is there?

9 comments:

sjw said...

Here comes a candle to light you to bed, here comes a chopper to chop off your head!

RuralSandi said...

You know the Liberals made a mistake in the 2005/6 election - they pulled that ad "soldiers in the streets" - all they needed to do was change it to police in the streets, in your homes, snooping.

Is this George Bush or what?

I got my "18th" ten percenter today - 18 since the end of January.

penlan said...

Just think where we might be today if the Cons had gotten the majority Harper craves so badly. This law would have been implemented by now along with so many other things that our heads would be spinning. We'd be a police state by now - 3 1/2 yrs. is long enough to make drastic changes with a majority. Is your skin crawling yet?

Anonymous said...

This law will continue the mass surveillance that has already started.

The problem is that many Canadians will see this as a good thing. Be it sold as seeing as going after the bad guys, or protecting your children (that's how this malarky is always sold).

Penlan, the Liberals were the first to start implementing this sort of thing, so it's unfair to blame the Connies for this.


This is a bill that offers no oversight and will led to abuse (as it always does).


Yes the police state is marching forth, yet Canadians don't seem to care.

ridenrain said...

The Human Rights commissions have proven to be far more dangerous. Police and courts are bound by laws where the Liberals inquisition are bound by nothing but dogma
.. and ruthless efficiency
.. and a fanatical devotion to the pope.

Karen said...

I wonder if there is a study somewhere that measures the direct correlation between CPC supporters and being stark raving mad? At least those supporters that troll the net.

Anonymous said...

Riderain, you are much funnier when you go by your real name of Ezra...

Anonymous said...

I really like your last sentence. Just about says it all!

ottlib said...

We all know that the Conservatives use law-and-order issues as a wedge.

So, none of these bills will get passed anytime soon. If they are what will the Conservatives talk about during the next election? Their stellar performance on predicting Canada's fiscal performance?

These are sops to attempt to assuage the anger of the base who are very displeased about the number 50 billion.

My guess, these bills will wallow in the House until after Christmas only to be passed before the next budget so that the Conservatives can complain about the disruptive Senate after the budget is defeated.

This is assuming their government lasts the Fall. (Which I sincerely hope will not be the case)