Stoddart Cautions on Bills Seeking to Expand Canada Government Access to Personal Data

OTTAWA—The Canada federal government should reconsider the privacy implications of its legislative proposals to expand the powers of law enforcement and national security officials to obtain personal information without consent, Federal Privacy Commissioner Jennifer Stoddart said in a letter to Public Safety Minister Vic Toews that was made public Oct. 27.

If authorities find it too difficult to obtain warrants or judicial authorization in a timely way, that should be addressed through administrative solutions, not by weakening privacy protection, Stoddart said.

‘Lawful Access’ Bills May be Reintroduced.

Three bills on so-called “lawful access” that were introduced by the government during ...