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Canadian Spy Agencies Deliberately Misled Courts

Walking The Walk writes "Canada's spy agency deliberately withheld information from the courts in an effort to do an end-run around the law when it applied for top-secret warrants to intercept the communications of Canadians abroad, a Federal Court judge said Friday. CSIS assured Judge Richard Mosley the intercepts would be carried out from inside Canada, and controlled by Canadian government personnel, court records show. However, Canadian officials then asked for intercept help from foreign intelligence allies without telling the court. 'It is clear that the exercise of the court's warrant issuing has been used as protective cover for activities that it has not authorized,' Mosley wrote in redacted reasons."

9 of 62 comments (clear)

  1. Who watches the watchmen? by mschaffer · · Score: 4, Interesting

    So, I see the Canadians are taking notes from the Americans and the British.

    1. Re:Who watches the watchmen? by davester666 · · Score: 5, Interesting

      Notes? We have even fewer laws controlling CSIS than the US has controlling the NSA. Not that either agency believes they are much more than suggestions or guidelines and not actual hard and fast rules.

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      Sleep your way to a whiter smile...date a dentist!
  2. I'm not surprised by msobkow · · Score: 4, Interesting

    I've been ranting about "bi-lateral security agreements" as a means to do an end-run around the bans on spying on citizens/locally that each nation has. This is just proof that such is exactly what the countries are all doing.

    --
    I do not fail; I succeed at finding out what does not work.
  3. And as usual... by RocketRabbit · · Score: 5, Insightful

    And as usual no individuals will be held personally accountable for this. Perhaps a general censure will occur, or a mocking speech stating that they didn't do anything wrong thinly veiled as an apology.

    Canadians often mock America but it seems that you guys have achieved banana republic status too.

  4. It's time for criminal charges by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Insightful

    What we have seen for the last couple of months is avoidance, avoidance and spiting on national laws.
    It's time for those people knowingly engaging in criminal behavior to face charges. If we not react now, they will feel more and more powerful.

  5. Re:Come on Canada by compro01 · · Score: 4, Informative

    Unless 10 or more Conservatives or the Harper-appointed Governor-General spontaneously develop consciences, the next election isn't going to be for almost 2 years.

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    upon the advice of my lawyer, i have no sig at this time
  6. Re:But, but, but... by JMJimmy · · Score: 4, Interesting

    Innocent we are not, but we do still respect the rule of law. The courts are also somewhat vindictive when they are screwed around with - I'd expect the bar just got raised for any future warrants CSIS wants.

  7. NSA *DID* lie to the Congress ! by Taco+Cowboy · · Score: 5, Insightful
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    Muchas Gracias, Señor Edward Snowden !
  8. Re:Come on Canada by sandbagger · · Score: 4, Interesting

    Not in Canada but three or four terms is about the limit before people get tired of any politician. Moreover, I don't think much of 'Harper-ism' will survive Harper. Too much of his 'reforms' are based upon running the entire government off his desk.For example, not letting government scientists talk to the press unless the PMO understands what is being said, i.e.. nothing. Statistics Canada now actually appends footnotes saying that their work cannot be trusted because the statistical samples are now too small or otherwise do not meet best practices.

    Moreover, Conservative judges have a way of ruling more for individual liberty than institutional liberties once they are ruling at lofty Olympian levels of the Supreme Court. Politicians keep being surprised by this.

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    ---- The above post was generated by the Turing Institute. Maybe.