It seems so long ago that Americans where fighting SOPA, and Canadians where fighting Bill C-30 to protect freedoms online. But the push to pass Bill C-30 has returned!
Bill C-30 An Act to enact the Investigating and Preventing Criminal Electronic Communications Act and to amend the Criminal Code and other Acts. Was basically set aside because of massive public outrage against the proposed legislation. The bill was dubbed the “Spying on Every Single Canadian any Time We Feel Like it Act,” even in the main stream media.
The Canadian government seems to be masters at getting Canadians to forget about issues. An example of this comes in the area of natural health products. Every time the government introduced legislation to limit the industry (Bills C-51, C-6, C-36) they where met with large backlash from the people. But they just kept pushing until the people forgot, or lost track of what was happening.
This seems to be the case with C-30. Set it aside until the uproar calms down, and then push again.
On October 26 2012 The Canadian Association Of Police Chiefs urged the government to pass the bill. Association president and Vancouver police Chief Jim Chu stated that without Bill C-30, officers investigating criminal activity on cellphones and the internet will still have to get a warrant every time they want to intercept communications by cybercriminals.
Chu went on to give several examples of how warrants have “hindered” investigations, including one about a sexual assault victim. Who obtained her attackers cell phone, but the police could not access it. To find out who it belonged to until 13 days later and the suspect had already fled to another province.
Those pesky warrants!! The only thing protecting Canadians from random search’s, random seizures. Have got to go! Does this at all seem like the mentality of a government, or police agency who’s intention is to protect and serve the people? Or does it seem more like half fasted rational for power drunk people to bypass our right to privacy?
If bill C-30 is not permanently curbed. Be ready for the cyber version of “line up and show your papers”!
People need to remind the authorities that the Charter is the Supreme Law:
52. (1) The Constitution of Canada is the supreme law of Canada, and any law that is inconsistent with the provisions of the Constitution is, to the extent of the inconsistency, of no force or effect.
(2) The Constitution of Canada includes
(a) the Canada Act, 1982, including this Act;
(b) the Acts and orders referred to in the Schedule; and
(c) any amendment to any Act or order referred to in paragraph (a) or (b).
(3) Amendments to the Constitution of Canada shall be made only in accordance with the authority contained in the Constitution of Canada.