CP: CSIS won't open full Tommy Douglas file

Canada's spy agency is pulling out all the stops to block the release of decades-old intelligence on socialist icon Tommy Douglas.

In an affidavit filed in Federal Court, the Canadian Security Intelligence Service argues that full disclosure of the file on Douglas could endanger the lives of confidential informants and jeopardize the agency's ability to conduct secret surveillance.

Indeed, CSIS suggests its very raison d'etre would be imperilled by releasing the information compiled on the one-time Saskatchewan premier and federal NDP leader, widely revered as the father of medicare.

"Secrecy is intrinsic to security intelligence matters," Nicole Jalbert, the agency's access to information and privacy co-ordinator, says in the affidavit filed late last month.

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http://www.cbc.ca/canada/story/2010/02/10/csis-tommy-douglas-.html

"...full disclosure of the file on Douglas could endanger the lives of confidential informants and jeopardize the agency's ability to conduct secret surveillance."

Secret surveillance of a popular, elected politician needs to be protected even after decades?!?

I only hope the courts makes it clear CSIS is full of shit and has NO case and rules the files must be released.

Target a Canadian icon and refuse to disclose the details so many years later? Considering the fact he was named the #1 Canadian by the people it appears our "intelligence" organizations don't have a concern for the publics opinion as feel the need to take the undemocratic position of not releasing these files. The reasoning is comical, pathetic and insulting.

Unfortunately, I think this is business as usual in this country. It's embarrassing to think of just how many people and for how long a period of time CSIS and the RCMP target people. If this is what we read of in CBC for a very famous Canadian, imagine how many regular Canadians have been and continue to be targeted without even a peep of press support. Our soliders risk their lives fighting and dying overseas, and this is the democracy they protect?! It's indefensible in my opinion.

I have, out of necessity, educated myself greatly on the intelligence community in this country. Before realizing my own circumstances I didn't have an interest in politics, but out of necessity I became aware of how devious these organizations can be.

Here is a link illustrating how bad it has become. Canada is #1 in registered UN human right complaints (2007 data): http://www.eyeontheun.org/facts.asp?1=1&p=54


In all of my research and investigating I have read and viewed, I believe it has become alot worse now than ever as these organizations essentially manufacture threats and use these "created threats" to justify their existence and increased budgets (compare current security funding to the level in 2000, an exponential increase, somehow these people have to remain busy, you do the math..) For this last sentence I speak from experience, even going so far as to contact Mr. Toews our beloved Public Safety Minister to complain about the threats and life interference I experienced. Of course, as a man of accountability as he so loosely speaks of on his website, he refused to respond (more on this later).

It seems that everyday someone new is shown to have been targeted by the RCMP (see Rita Macneil). It makes you wonder which public figures are constantly being watched in 2010...

Not.

There are probably too many barns that were burnt.

Just look what is happening in England today.

How 400 years of legal history were cast aside in the Binyam Mohamed case

Legal principle established in 1637 banned secret talks between lawyers and courts. It was broken by the government

When the master of the rolls, Lord Neuberger, decided to retract paragraph 168 from his draft judgment in the case of Binyam Mohamed, he relied on almost 400 years of jurisprudence to assume that the parties in the case had agreed to its removal.

The case of Ship Money, brought by Oliver Cromwell's cousin John Hampden in 1637, established the principle that there should be no secret communication between lawyers and the courts in legal proceedings.

Representations from one side – in this case, the foreign secretary's barrister, Jonathan Sumption QC – should be copied to all other parties in the case, so that they have the opportunity to respond.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/libertycentral/2010/feb/10/binyam-mohamed-legal-principle-representations

And yesterday in the US.

Obama Administration: US Forces Can Assassinate Americans Believed to Be Involved in Terrorist Activity
http://www.democracynow.org/2010/2/9/obama_administration_us_forces_can_assassinate

Nowadays, CBC listeners and viewers think of Tommy Douglas as the Greatest Canadian of All Time. And a whole lot of Canadians celebrate him as the father of universal healthcare.

But back in the day, the populist politician from the Prairies attracted no small amount of attention from the security and intelligence branch of the RCMP. In 2006, twenty years after his death, the goverment released the dossier that the RCMP kept on him. That dossier spanned nine volumes. It was made public after a Canadian Press reporter filed an Access-to-Information request.

But there was more that was not released. And now, the federal government is before a federal court, saying that information must remain a state secret.

Actor and activist Shirley Douglas is the daughter of Tommy Douglas. We reached her at home.
http://www.cbc.ca/mrl3/8752/asithappens/aihstreaming_20100211_02.wma
http://www.cbc.ca/asithappens/latestshow.html

Interview is the first one after the intro.

On second look, it would appear that my avatar has been abducted in the night or something, by person or persons unknown.