I don’t doubt that there are folks that would be shocked or surprised to see this kind of police power expansion being discussed, but I’m not surprised. As far as I can see, the majority of people involved in government aren’t actually concerned about whether any individual citizen has rights. Most government policies appear to be built on the basis that rights are granted by the government (i.e. through the Charter and other legislation). Taken to its logical conclusion that justification means that rights can be legislated or regulated away. And, that’s why I’m never surprised to see this kind of legislation.
However, the fact that it doesn’t surprise me doesn’t mean it doesn’t annoy me. In the article I linked the legislation is defended with fear: terrorists and pornographers are using the Internet and therefore CSIS and the police must be allowed to eavesdrop. That’s a legitimate argument (eavesdropping is a well established police procedure) but please don’t try to convince me it’s a good idea to allow it without requiring a court order.
This entry was written by the proprietor, posted on 19 August 2005 at 5:59 pm.
Police Powers to be Expanded
I don’t doubt that there are folks that would be shocked or surprised to see this kind of police power expansion being discussed, but I’m not surprised. As far as I can see, the majority of people involved in government aren’t actually concerned about whether any individual citizen has rights. Most government policies appear to be built on the basis that rights are granted by the government (i.e. through the Charter and other legislation). Taken to its logical conclusion that justification means that rights can be legislated or regulated away. And, that’s why I’m never surprised to see this kind of legislation.
However, the fact that it doesn’t surprise me doesn’t mean it doesn’t annoy me. In the article I linked the legislation is defended with fear: terrorists and pornographers are using the Internet and therefore CSIS and the police must be allowed to eavesdrop. That’s a legitimate argument (eavesdropping is a well established police procedure) but please don’t try to convince me it’s a good idea to allow it without requiring a court order.
This entry was written by the proprietor, posted on 19 August 2005 at 5:59 pm.
Filed under Commentary Unbound and tagged canada, police, politics.
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