Towards the Canadian Homeland Security State
Sweeping Surveillance Bill introduced in the Canadian Parliament
“Massive Empire of Surveillance”
The sweeping surveillance bill introduced in the Canadian Parliament November 15,2005 called
The Modernization of Investigative Techniques Act.
The sweeping surveillance bill introduced in Parliament November 15,2005 called The Modernization of Investigative Techniques Act is a gross violation of Canadian civil liberties, of our Charter of Rights and Freedoms, and of our Constitutional entitlements. It must not be tolerated . Every politician who supports it is an enemy of Canada, our people, and our freedom. Every Canadian who cares about his/ her liberty must take a stand now. It is truly a question of liberty vs a police state. This Act is an attack on not only freedom of speech, but freedom of thought. It is Orwell’s 1984 coming to fruition.
The Canadian Action Party months ago requested a copy of this bill, but our government has failed to release it to us. The only details of the terms of the pending bill that we gleaned came from the media, both mainstream and internet. The philosophy and real reasons for it we have learned by examining the following documents which we obtained from the internet. (Will this Bill threaten or restrict our capability to conduct such research in the future? Am I to be defined as a “terrorist” for challenging it?)
1. The discussion paper of the Canadian Council of Chief Executives posted on their website November 2, 2005 called, “Building a 21st Century Canada- United States Partnership in North America, April 2004”.
See: http://www.ceocouncil.ca/en/view/?document_id=365&area_id=7
2. “The Canada-US Smart Border Declaration” with a 30 point action Plan signed December 12,2001.
See: http://www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/newsroom/factsheets/2002/sep/smart-e.html
3. “The Security and Prosperity Partnership Agreement” signed by President Bush, President Fox and Martin in March, 2005.
See: http://www.pm.gc.ca/eng/news.asp?id=443
4. “The Report of Ministers to the Leaders” (President Bush, President Fox, Prime Minister Martin) -SPP- (Security and Prosperity Partnership)- North America, June 2005
See: http://www.fac-aec.gc.ca/SPP-report.PDF
Anne McLellan, Deputy Prime Minister of Canada, David Emerson, Minister of Industry, and Pierre Pettigrew, Minister of Foreign Affairs are the reporting Ministers for Canada.
5. Report of the Independent Task Force on the Future of North America called “Building A North American Community.”
See: Trilateral Task Force Recommendations,
http://www.usembassycanada.gov/content/can_usa/northamericancommunity_TF_final.pdf
These reports and agreements reveal a very disturbing fact. Prime Minister Martin and his Ministers are not setting policy for Canada. They are taking instructions from the USA’s president Bush and doing his bidding. The background force driving all the Leaders of Canada, Mexico and USA are the Chief Executive officers of the most influential corporations of those three countries.
The most influential chief executive officers of the three nations want a unified North America by 2010. They need an enforcement system. This bill to spy on good citizens, especially those who will dissent and oppose this system, is one prong of that policing mechanism.
In the “Report of Ministers to the Leaders” -SPP- North America, June 2005, (number 4 above) the Ministers report that on March 23, 2005 the three Leaders of Canada, Mexico and USA instructed their respective Ministers to create an “architecture” which would further enhance the security of North America. The report of the Ministers refers to the commitment of the Three Leaders on March 23, 2005 to “Establish a common approach to security to protect North America from external threats, prevent and respond to threats within North America….”.
The Ministers report that experts from the three countries met between March and June of 2005 developing specific plans and objectives to meet the common security goals in an “evolving and strengthening North American Relationship”. The Ministers report that they have established plans to enhance partnerships on intelligence and information sharing including developing a comprehensive law enforcement strategy.
The United States just recently passed their internet spying law. My guess is the language of The Modernization of Investigative Techniques Act is modeled on the USA Internet spying act, just as our anti terrorism law, the Public Safety Act, mirrors the USA Patriot Act .
The Canada -US Smart Border Declaration was signed December 12, 2001 by John Manley when he was Deputy Prime Minister and Tom Ridge US Homeland Security Director. Point 24 of this 30 point action plan refers to Joint Enforcement Coordination- a comprehensive and permanent coordination of law enforcement , anti terrorism efforts and information sharing. Point 25 is about Integrated Intelligence- joint teams to analyze and disseminate information and intelligence, and to produce threat and intelligence assessments.
This internet, e mail, cell phone spying is not about pornography as Anne McLellan whitewashes to sell it. Her hypocrisy here is as guilty as the duplicity found out it the Gomery report on fiscal corruption in the system.
The 9/11 justification is wearing more than thin. What the ministers call “architecture”, I call the trappings of a police state. I do not want it. No Canadians were asked if we wanted it. No Canadians were asked if we wanted a regime change into an unaccountable unelected North American Union ruled by Orwellian laws that imprison us. The Empire of Surveillance must be struck down! All Canadians are entitled to security and prosperity, not imprisonment and poverty.
Connie Fogal is Leader of the Canadian Action Party, and Director, Defence of Canadian Liberty Committee.
www.canadianactionparty.ca
www.canadianliberty.bc.ca
