(Ottawa) Bloc Québécois MP René Villemure is calling for an investigation by a Commons committee to shed light on the use of spyware by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP).
Posted at 11:37 a.m.
“Frankly, I find that spying on Canadians, possibly without a warrant, is something that is unacceptable. Surveillance today has become something big, ”argues the trained ethicist on the other end of the line.
He will send a letter on Tuesday to the chair of the Standing Committee on Access to Information, Privacy and Ethics asking that elected officials meet for four meetings, starting August 8, in order to consider the use of spyware.
MP Villemure believes it is imperative to summon, among others, senior RCMP officials, the privacy commissioner, and possibly also the Minister of Public Security, Marco Mendicino.
While federal police have admitted they have been using spyware for five years, via documents tabled in the House of Commons in late June, they have so far refused to say what software it is. However, the RCMP maintains that their use is limited and targeted, and supervised by justice.