Canada's Tories backtracking on internet snooping bill

"Old Vic" Toews, Canada's Minister of Public Safety & Security & Law & Order & Correct Behaviour, was interviewed on CBC Radio's The House today. The subject was Bill C-30. That's the one which, if you don't support it, you're standing with the child pornographers, according to Vic.

Mr Toews's characterization of those who believe in freedom of expression and freedom of information as supporters of porn peddlers drew a lot of ire, not just from the usual "progressive forces" but from libertarians as well. The outcry from normally passive Canadians seems to have surprised the minister, and his puppet-master, "Call me Steve" Harpoon. To judge from the interview, they're now in damage control mode.

Hence the unusual move to refer Bill C-30 to a parliamentary committe for further study, following first reading rather than second reading as is the usual procedure. Toews also says the government will look at any and all amendments which the opposition or anyone else -- for instance the Privacy Commissioner -- might suggest. (Canada's Privacy Commissioner was also interviewed on the programme.)

So the ball ["bill", surely. Ed.] has been pretty well kicked into the long grass. But that doesn't mean Canadians concerned about the invasion of their privacy shouldn't make their voices heard... while dissent is still legal. Here are some useful links.

The Honourable (sic) Vic Toews can be reached (supposedly) at vic.toews@parl.gc.ca. And here's his office phone number: +1-613-992-3128. For those still living in the `80s, Vic has a fax number too: +1-613-995-1049.

To yank the chain of the Rob Nicholson -- the one standing with Toews in the picture, not with the pornographers -- e-mail rob.nicholson@parl.gc.ca. (Are you starting to see a pattern to these e-mail addresses?) His phone number is +1-613-995-1547, fax +1-613-992-7910.

If you want to contact another of the 308 MPs, go here to find his or her co-ordinates. If it's a senator you want -- like that great champion of free speech Mike Puffy -- here's a list of those who slumber in the Red Chamber.

One more tip. It's still the law, in Canada, that anyone can write to a Senator or Member of Parliament for free! (That means Canada Post has to pay the cost, which sounds only fair to Walt.) Here are the addresses:

Senators: Name of Senator / The Senate of Canada / Ottawa / Ontario K1A 0A4
MPs: Name of Member of Parliament / House of Commons / Ottawa / Ontario K1A 0A6

And don't forget... no-one ever said you could write only once! Go ahead! Knock yourself (and them) out!

Note from Ed.: I meant to take some pornographic pictures for these posts, but I forgot my pornograph.