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National Union raises concerns over internet surveillance

"Whether it is sharing a biographic database of people who cross the border or the review of Canadian bank accounts with more than $50,000 to determine if they are “U.S. reportable” the freedom and privacy of Canadians is rapidly eroding away" - James Clancy, NUPGE National President.

Ottawa (21 Feb. 2014) - The National Union of Public and General Employees (NUPGE) is calling on the Harper government to take immediate steps to protect Canadians' online privacy.

James Clancy, NUPGE National President, has written the Prime Minister raising the concerns of the union about its role in the mass surveillance of citizens.

Revelations about the Communication Security Establishment Canada

Clancy wrote that "we have learned that Canada's Communication Security Establishment (CSEC) has used airport internet services to track, often for days afterward, the wireless devices of thousands of travellers.  We only learned of this practice through the revelations of Edward Snowden and not from the disclosure of an “open and transparent” Canadian government. 

"When considered in conjunction with other initiatives of your government to compile and share the personal data of Canadians with US counterparts we see a disturbing trend.  Whether it is sharing a biographic database of people who cross the border or the review of Canadian bank accounts with more than $50,000 to determine if they are “U.S. reportable” the freedom and privacy of Canadians is rapidly eroding away."

Concerns being raised by privacy advocates and business leaders

Clancy points to the comments and reports of the Federal Privacy Commissioner or the Information and Privacy Commissioner of Ontario who have raised similar concerns as well as an op-ed in the Globe and Mail by investor Theo Caldwell.

"There are proposals in existence of how to protect Canadians' privacy and still meet the legitimate security needs of this country," explains Clancy.  "Recent reports from the federal and Ontario privacy commissions provide excellent starting points for such a legislative and regulatory framework."

Need for greater accountability 

Clancy sees that the "federal security establishment, including CSEC but much broader, needs effective oversight.  There must be greater accountability to Canadians."

He points out that the 2004 commission created to look into the treatment of Maher Arar conducted an extensive review of security establishment practices.  The National Union was a member of the interveners group in the hearings and supported Justice O'Connor's proposals for an oversight mechanism for Canada's security establishment.

Unfortunately, there has been little progress made in implementing Justice O'Connor's recommendations. 

The letter ends with Clancy further suggesting that the Conservative "government convene full public hearings on the current practices, aims and goals of the Canadian states surveillance practices. These hearings could build on the work already done by Justice O'Connor and the privacy commissioners." 

"Canadians pride themselves on building a free and democratic society.  However, we are seeing a serious assault on our fundamental freedoms and democratic institutions.  Your government must act to halt this slide towards, in Al Gores words, a 'police state'."

NUPGE

The National Union of Public and General Employees (NUPGE) is one of Canada's largest labour organizations with over 340,000 members. Our mission is to improve the lives of working families and to build a stronger Canada by ensuring our common wealth is used for the common good. NUPGE