Data-Collection Program Got Green Light From MacKay In 2011 -- Globe and Mail
Defence Minister Peter MacKay approved a secret electronic eavesdropping program that scours global telephone records and Internet data trails – including those of Canadians – for patterns of suspicious activity.
Mr. MacKay signed a ministerial directive formally renewing the government’s “metadata” surveillance program on Nov. 21, 2011, according to records obtained by The Globe and Mail.
The program had been placed on a lengthy hiatus, according to the documents, after a federal watchdog agency raised concerns that it could lead to warrantless surveillance of Canadians. T
here is little public information about the program, which is the subject of Access to Information requests that have returned hundreds of pages of records, with many passages blacked out on grounds of national security.
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More News On Canada's Surveillance Program
Canada says it monitors foreign phone, internet traffic -- Reuters
Canada has program to eavesdrop on its citizens, too -- Daily Caller
Peter MacKay defends spy outfit's data collecting program -- CNews
Minister MacKay defends spy outfit's data collecting program -- SUN news Data-collection program not targeting Canadians: MacKay -- CTV News
Privacy czar to probe Canadian impact of U.S. data program -- CBC/Canadian Press
Canadians likely being spied on by federal agencies -- Post Media News
Spy agencies have turned our digital lives inside out. We need to watch them -- Ronald Deibert, The Globe and Mail
My Comment: As someone who is living in Canada .... I am not surprised by this disclosure .... but it is still news that is disturbing. But what makes me unhappy is that there has been no debate on this issue in this country. In short .... it has all been done in secret.