Slashdot Mirror


Canadian Minister Lies On Net Surveillance Claims

An anonymous reader writes "As we discussed last month, the Canadian government has introduced Internet surveillance legislation that requires ISPs to disclose customer information without a warrant. Peter Van Loan, the Minister in charge, claims that a Vancouver kidnapping earlier this year shows the need for these powers. Michael Geist did some digging and revealed this as a lie — the Vancouver police acknowledge that the case did not involve an ISP request and the suspect is now in custody."

10 of 155 comments (clear)

  1. Re:Lessons from the Bush Administration. by Ethanol-fueled · · Score: 5, Informative

    9/11 was America's Reichstag fire.

  2. Re:STOP THE PRESSES! by compro01 · · Score: 2, Informative

    Distinctly unlikely. The guy got 3 times as many votes as the closest competition in the last election.

    --
    upon the advice of my lawyer, i have no sig at this time
  3. Re:Of course it is a lie... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Informative

    Yes, he molested a child. Yes, he's a rapist.. But no, he's not a pedophile. He was absolutely convinced she was 17 (which is what the girl's mother told him (she should face charges too for effectively pimping her own daughter), which was the age of consent at the time in California.

  4. Re:STOP THE PRESSES! by The+Yuckinator · · Score: 3, Informative

    From TFS:

    "...the Vancouver police acknowledge that the case did not involve an ISP request and the suspect is now in custody."

    So no, there was no reason that any legislation like this would have sped up the apprehension of the kidnapper because they weren't looking to the ISP for evidence in the first place. Unfortunately that means YES, it was definitely a lie. Even if it's only from a position of ignorance, the MINISTER OF PUBLIC SAFETY better get his facts straight before spewing forth on any topic, let alone one that impacts every online citizen in the country.

    It's almost unheard of for Canadian politicians to be removed from office outside of an election but I'd say if the PM wants to keep any sort of respectability, he will need to remove Mr Van Loan from cabinet first thing on Monday morning.

  5. For Canadians by beckett · · Score: 3, Informative

    put down the cardiac poutine and fire a few e-mails off, guys.

    here are email links to Federal Minister for Public Safety Peter Van Loan Opposition critics to : Federal Liberal Critic Mark Holland Public Safety and National Security NDP Don Davies

  6. Re:Well, what do you know by Adambomb · · Score: 2, Informative

    and, of course, everyone everywhere is either a liberal or a (spit) conservative

    Note for those unaware: It's not just a random label thrown about in canada to polarize issues, the current government is headed by the Progressive Conservative party. And the current opposition are the Liberals.

    --
    Ice Cream has no bones.
  7. Re:SURE He THOUGHT She Was 17 ... by tomhudson · · Score: 3, Informative
    The poster who wrote that Polanski thought she was "old enough" was wrong - you can read the transcripts of the plea bargain at The Smoking Gun.
    1. Polanski admitted under oath during the plea bargain that he knew PRIOR to raping her that she was only 13. This was with his lawyers' advice and consent, and after being told by the judge what the legal implications were.
    2. The mother testified at the grand jury, also under oath, that she had told Polanski that her daughter was 13; she was surprised that Polanski wanted her to do some child modeling because photogs usually want models who are even younger.

    So we have both the testmony from the perp, after waiving his right to avoid self-incrimination as part of the guilty plea bargain, and a second witness, that he knew she was 13. What more proof does ANYONE want?

  8. Internet Town Hall meeting Oct. 26 Halifax by farbles · · Score: 5, Informative

    Concerns over this and other issues such as copyright laws, digital rights management issues, the Digital Divide, and privacy have prompted the Chebucto Community Net and the Dalhousie Student Union to hold a public Internet Town Hall meeting in Halifax, Nova Scotia on Monday, October 26th at 7 pm in the McInnes Room of the Dalhousie Student Union Building. I saw the notice on their website here: http://www.chebucto.ns.ca/Current/CourtesyCCN.shtml

    Their main speaker is Laura Murray, co-author of Canadian Copyright: A Citizenâ(TM)s Guide, and they've got speakers on the other issues too. They're calling it "Who's Shaping Your Digital Future?" and it's noteworthy for being the only meeting of its kind in the Atlantic Provinces. I don't know why they're not promoting this better, maybe they don't have the money or something, but I know I'll be going to it.

    I wonder if anyone from the government or the mainstream media will be showing up.

  9. Re:Lips by Petrushka · · Score: 4, Informative

    His lips are moving.

    Sure. But that doesn't mean you shouldn't lynch them when you catch them at it.

  10. Re:Well, what do you know by jbr439 · · Score: 2, Informative

    Not quite: a few years ago, the Progessive Conservative Party merged with the Reform Party to form the Consersative Party.