The House of Commons Order Paper for February 13, 2012 includes the proposed introduction by the Minister of Public Safety of a Bill entitled “An Act to enact the Investigating and Preventing Criminal Electronic Communications act and to amend the Criminal Code and others [sic] Acts.” The Bill was not introduced on Monday, but may be introduced as early as Tuesday, February 14th.
The subject-matter of the proposed “lawful access” legislation is expected to be controversial. Previous Bills regarding the same subject significantly enhanced the powers of the state to engage in lawful electronic surveillance of Canadians. For example, previous proposed legislation required internet service providers to develop and use surveillance technologies to monitor and preserve data relating to the internet use of their customers. Police would be able to require internet service providers to preserve and produce certain information without a warrant.
The Information and Privacy Commissioner of Ontario has launched an educational and advocacy website. The Privacy Commissioner of Canada and her provincial and territorial counterparts have also previously expressed their concerns.
