Dear Senators:

Dear Canadian Senators,

I am asking you to vote against Bill C-10. Crime is at its lowest since the 1970s. We do not need C-10; it is a solution to a non-existent problem. Mandatory minimums are a proven failure: Some States in the United States implemented mandatory minimums and now regret doing it. C-10 will force Canada to build more jails. Building more jails when (1) they are not necessary and (2) Canada has so much debt and other, important programs are being dismantled, is an irresponsible use of tax dollars.

It is far less expensive to treat people than to house them in jails at some $100,000 per prisoner.

I also agree with the points raised by the Canadian Civil Liberties Association: <http://ccla.org/omnibus-crime-bill-c-10/>.

Please, vote against C-10.

Harper's Snoop & Spy Bill - An Update

I wrote a letter to Vic Toews about the Government's proposed "Protecting Children from Internet Porn Bill" [sic] and the reply I received from his office is posted below, in full:

"Thank you for contacting my office regarding Bill C-30, the Protecting Children from Internet Predators Act.

Canada's laws currently do not adequately protect Canadians from online exploitation and we think there is widespread agreement that this is a problem.

We want to update our laws while striking the right balance between combating crime and protecting privacy.

Let me be very clear: the police will not be able to read emails or view web activity unless they obtain a warrant issued by a judge and we have constructed safeguards to protect the privacy of Canadians, including audits by privacy commissioners.

What's needed most is an open discussion about how to better protect Canadians from online crime. We will therefore send this legislation directly to Parliamentary Committee for a full examination of the best ways to protect Canadians while respecting their privacy.

For your information, I have included some myths and facts below regarding Bill C-30 in its current state.

Sincerely,

Vic Toews

Member of Parliament for Provencher

Myth: Lawful Access legislation infringes on the privacy of Canadians.

Fact: Our Government puts a high priority on protecting the privacy of law-abiding Canadians. Current practices of accessing the actual content of communications with a legal authorization will not change.

Myth: Having access to basic subscriber information means that authorities can monitor personal communications and activities.

Fact: This has nothing to do with monitoring emails or web browsing. Basic subscriber information would be limited to a customer’s name, address, telephone number, email address, Internet Protocol (IP) address, and the name of the telecommunications service provider. It absolutely does not include the content of emails, phones calls or online activities.

Myth: This legislation does not benefit average Canadians and only gives authorities more power.

Fact: As a result of technological innovations, criminals and terrorists have found ways to hide their illegal activities. This legislation will keep Canadians safer by putting police on the same footing as those who seek to harm us.

Myth: Basic subscriber information is way beyond “phone book information”.

Fact: The basic subscriber information described in the proposed legislation is the modern day equivalent of information that is in the phone book. Individuals frequently freely share this information online and in many cases it is searchable and quite public.

Myth: Police and telecommunications service providers will now be required to maintain databases with information collected on Canadians.

Fact: This proposed legislation will not require either police or telecommunications service providers to create databases with information collected on Canadians.

Myth: “Warrantless access” to customer information will give police and government unregulated access to our personal information.

Fact: Federal legislation already allows telecommunications service providers to voluntarily release basic subscriber information to authorities without a warrant. This Bill acts as a counterbalance by adding a number of checks and balances which do not exist today, and clearly lists which basic subscriber identifiers authorities can access.

The Rant against "Snoop & Spy"

A Fair and Balanced Look....

I just finished reading Al Franken's book: Lies & the Lying Liars Who Tell Them: A Fair & Balanced Look at the Right. As I mentioned elsewhere, the problem with reading a book written by a satirist and a comedian is that you aren't always sure when the author is being serious and when he's having some fun. That and the fact that the book is definitely about the minutia of American political discourse (or what passes for discourse down there...).

However, there were many good lines and it was especially fun to try and apply them to Canada's current political situation. So, some tidbits:

1. Post-9/11 the balance between civil rights and national security became a wee bit more tenuous. Examples were given of the kinds of actions being contemplated or carried out in the name of national security. Those still advocating civil rights were called out by the US attorney general (Ashcroft) who said: "To those who scare peace-loving people with phantoms of lost liberty, my message is this: Your tactics only aid terrorists - for they erode our national unity and diminish our resolve. They give ammunition to America's enemies."

In Canada, Canadians who were asking for information about what happened to Afghan detainees a few years ago were accused of "standing with the Terrorists" and, more recently, privacy advocates have been accused of "standing with the pornographers".

2. The book did spend almost all of its words describing what the author feels were lies...egregious lies...made by members of the American Right. At the end of the last chapter, the author muses about whether the liars believe what they are saying or not. Although not certain about the answer to that question, the author does feel that the best action is to call such people on their dishonesty and eventually, their dishonesty will lose its effectiveness. Then, he says, "...[they] will have to resort to Plan B: name calling. Which, I think, will expose them for what they are. Stupid bastards."

No, the author doesn't hold back much. In Canada, of course, we've experienced, over the past few years, the spectacle of ordinary Canadians who don't agree with the government being called terrorists, child pornographers, Hitler, radical extremists, environmental extremists.... You get the picture.

So when our Dear Leader says that in four years you won't recognize Canada, and you wonder what he might be talking about, maybe have a read of this book to see what our future might be.

For those of you who still see the service of your country as a higher calling, there was one quote just for you:

"Politics is not about power. Politics is not about money. Politics is not about winning for the sake of winning. Politics is about the improvement of people's lives. It's about advancing the cause of peace and justice in our country and in our world. Politics is about doing well for people."

'Nuff said.

Vic Toews goes phishing

I guess I must have had stereotypes on my mind because I was surprised to read this article from a Calgary newspaper.

Vic Toews goes phishing

Smart Meters - Another Viewpoint

Snoop & Spy Bill - Two Days On

The Harper Conservatives' Bill C-30 has certainly stirred up a hornet's nest, to an extent that even our Dear Leader probably didn't expect. Certainly not from a nation of peaceable, normally-gullible folk. But even some Conservative backbenchers are stepping out of line.

Quite frankly, this bill introduces the thin edge of the wedge. It's good to see that so many Canadians aren't prepared to take this bending over.

Since the "official opposition" parties aren't doing much to oppose (maybe out of fear of being called hypocrites), it's good to see that the National Broadcaster is laying out some of the facts for the Comrades. Now you do realize this is exactly why the Harper Conservatives so hate the CBC and want to demolish it.

Please - read on:

Online surveillance bill opens door for Big Brother - Politics - CBC News

With the Government or With the Pornographers ... Really?

Dear Mr Toews:

I wish to express my deep concern with statements attributed to you recently over criticism of your so-called "Lawful Access" bill. I object to the invasion of privacy of law-abiding Canadians. As one of those Canadians, I take very strong objection to being called a supporter of child pornography just because I also value the privacy of Canadians and have concerns about allowing police the right to spy on the country's citizens.

It is also my understanding that this proposed bill has very little in it to do directly with child pornography. It seems widely agreed that accessing IP and e-mail addresses, phone numbers and the like has not had much to do with apprehending the people responsible for such crimes. Isn't this really just a smoke screen to allow spying on Canadians?

Frankly, your comments sound more like something we would expect from totalitarian regimes like Iran or China. They do not have any place in a democracy like Canada.

I view your comments as borderline libelous and unworthy of a Minister of the Crown and I believe that decent, law-abiding Canadians deserve an apology from you.

Sincerely,

More on the American Political Sideshow

An interesting read on the political situation south of the 49th.

Why Obama Will Win « Right Off A Cliff

Little Green Lies?

There's long been a disconnect between anything the Harper Government says about the environment and what it's prepared to do. Actions speak louder than words. This article spells out some of the specifics.

http://www.desmogblog.com/little-green-lies-prime-minister-harper-and-canada-s-environment

The worst government for the environment? You decide.