Roundup: Pushing back out of the gate

The new privacy commissioner, Daniel Therrien, went before the Commons justice committee yesterday to talk about the “cyberbullying” bill, and the moment that Therrien did his job and pushed back against the bill – pointing out the overreach into lawful access provisions, the lowered test for getting warrants, the lack of oversight mechanisms, and that the bill should be split so that the more technical aspects of those lawful access provisions could get more detailed study, the government lashed back, turning against him immediately with the bizarre accusation that he hasn’t been a police officer. Apparently because police demand more powers, the government feels that they need to fall all over themselves to provide them, no questions asked – despite the fact that we have a history of showing that when authorities are given new powers without adequate oversight that they tend to be abused (for entirely well-meaning reasons, no doubt). Also of concern is that information could be requested not only by peace officers, but also by “public officers,” which includes elected officials, certain airline pilots and fisheries officers. No, seriously. Peter MacKay, meanwhile, brings up the child porn defence for these new measures, despite the fact that he hasn’t provided an excuse for why they wouldn’t need a warrant to get this kind of information. As well, NDP MP Randall Garrison tried to put in an amendment to the bill to see that transgendered people are protected from hate – you know, like cyberbullying – and the government shot it down for no real logical reason. Well done, everyone.

Over in the Senate, the other digital privacy bill saw some attempts by the Senate Liberals to move amendments to ensure that the legislation isn’t abused by patent trolls, or that warrantless data sharing is prohibited, but some of them were blocked on technicalities. The fact that private companies can share private data without any real oversight is certainly concerning and yet the government insists it’s necessary because of “elder abuse” and “protecting children” and stuff and things.

The Toronto lawyer who successfully challenged the Nadon appointment is going to take a run at the new citizenship bill, and in particular the provisions that allow citizenship to be stripped in certain cases, citing that Parliament doesn’t have those powers. The fact that he’s trying to go to the courts to block Royal Assent of the bill is remarkably boneheaded, however, and shows zero understanding of how our system of Responsible Government works. It’s actually kind of embarrassing. The minister, Chris Alexander, insists the bill will pass the constitutional test – of course.

Despite a new Broadbent Institute report that shows that income splitting will not only have little effect for most Canadian families, but will actually show particular regional distortions in its effect, Jason Kenney insists that the policy will still go ahead. Apparently it’s because it treats the family as an economic unit – never mind that it discourages women from entering the labour force.

Conservative MPs are saying that NDP salaries could be garnished if it is determined that they need to repay the expenses for their “satellite offices.”

While Stephen Harper and Tony Abbott were falling all over themselves to congratulate one another on halting carbon taxes, IMF head Christine Lagarde is sounding the alarm about the economics of climate change, and saying that governments need to pay more attention to them, given that the cost of doing nothing is going to be much higher than not doing something now.

Here is some more discussion on whether or not the prostitution bill will pass constitutional muster, and much of that seems to hinge on the legislated attempt to drive down the demand by criminalizing the purchasers. It seems to me that trying to drive down the demand for the world’s oldest profession makes about as much sense as trying to legislate against sunsets – an especially futile gesture that ignores the fact that there are always exchanges for sex, whether it’s in the dating world or inside of a marriage, and the fact that this particular exchange is more honestly about cash than for other favours does say something. Aaron Wherry wonders why the prostitution bill also shouldn’t be a free vote.

Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner Mary Dawson said that she has shelved her investigation of Nigel Wright’s $90,000 cheque to Mike Duffy pending the conclusion of the investigation of Duffy by the RCMP. And yes, Dawson’s reappointment as Commissioner was done in a mere couple of days.

My column this week takes issues with newspaper editorial endorsements, and the patent absurdity of calling for a minority government in the Globe and Mail’s case, since you can’t exactly mark that on the ballot.

And as yesterday was Prince Philip’s 93rd birthday, here are some of his more memorable quotes and interesting facts about him.