Tag: canada
What’s wrong with Bill S-210? An OpenMedia FAQ
It’s been called the “Most dangerous Canadian Internet bill you’ve never heard of”.
OpenMedia takes the C-11 fight to the CRTC
OpenMedia testified at the CRTC on C-11! Here’s what went down.
Your Impact in Action: OpenMedia’s Submission on Bill C-11 Policy Direction
Over 5,000 community members speak up on Bill C-11.
Your voice, DELIVERED: OpenMedia community urges CRTC to dethrone Big Telecom’s fibre monopoly!
We submitted input from nearly 4,500 people to the CRTC, urging the Commission to force Big Telecom to provide fibre wholesale access to indie ISPs!
OpenMedia calls on new chair of CRTC to prioritize competition, affordability, and everyday people’s needs
Canada’s Internet is dangerously adrift. OpenMedia’s letter to new CRTC chair Vicky Eatrides urges her to put us back on track.
Your voice, DELIVERED: 103,000+ petition signers urge Senate to fix Bill C-11!
Canada’s Senate just introduced a key amendment that nips many of Bill C-11’s problems in the bud — but brought a HUGE new threat to our privacy along with it.
Guest Blog: What Taylor Swift’s Ticketmaster debacle tells us about concentration on the internet
Monopolies on the mind? Check out this piece from our friends at CIRA: “Now it’s Ticketmaster and Taylor Swift tickets. Next, it could be the infrastructure of a Big Tech company.”
Your voice, DELIVERED: OpenMedia community speaks out more than 17,000 times to demand urgent privacy protections now!
This week, we delivered more than 11K signatures calling for Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to create strong privacy protections for people in Canada, and nearly 6K messages have been sent!
The Absolute Bare Minimum: Privacy and the New Bill C-27
Canada is under pressure to pass new federal privacy laws for the commercial sector. Find out what these new laws mean for you!
Your voice, DELIVERED: OpenMedia’s submission to the government’s CRTC policy direction consultation is in!
Nearly 16,000 members of the OpenMedia community have spoken out to shape the future of the CRTC. Thank you for adding your voices!
What is the CRTC? And why should I care?
Laying out what the CRTC is and how it affects the daily life of Canadians.
Regaining Privacy: Winning the Battle Against Device Searches at the Border
Parliamentarians just acknowledged that our personal electronic devices are different from our luggage, and deserve special privacy protections at the border.
Taking your message on Bill C-11 straight to the Standing Committee on Canadian Heritage
We took your voices to Parliament, will they act now?
How the federal government failed to protect our mobility data
Instead of keeping its promise to strengthen Canada’s privacy laws, the federal government is taking advantage of our system’s weaknesses.
Canadian privacy law has got you covered, but here’s why it simply isn’t enough
From limited digital rights, to little enforcement, find out why Canada's privacy laws are in serious need of an overhaul.
Survey Results: The Privacy Act in Canada
The OpenMedia community rallied together to make our voices heard about the importance of privacy protections in the public sector.
Will Bill C-11 #FixPrivacy in Canada or make it worse?
We were told that Bill C-11 would introduce huge fines for privacy violations. We put it to the test and it completely fails.
What’s wrong with the Link Tax? (an FAQ)
Common questions and answers on the Link Tax – from OpenMedia’s community
Facial recognition technology is one of the most racist weapons in the police arsenal
So long as the police are using it, surveillance tech like facial recognition is helping to power systemic racism.
Digital device privacy at the Canadian border
Canada’s border agents can search digital devices like phones and laptops when you cross the border. But that’s only because our laws are in serious need of an update.
Thank you for helping shape the future of Canadian copyright!
As the government’s Copyright Act review consultation closes its call for public comments, we want to say THANK YOU to everyone who helped shape the future of Canada’s copyright rules.
Will Canada Pass a SOPA-like Proposal? Canadian Media Companies Hope So
Our friends at Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) break down why Bell coalition's SOPA-like website blocking plan is deeply flawed:
Defending Your Digital Rights in NAFTA 2.0
We recently submitted a brief to the House of Commons Standing Committee on International Trade (CIIT), recommending what the government should do to ensure Canadians’ best interests are protected when it comes to how our digital rights are treated in a new NAFTA.
Back from the grave — Secret TPP talks to resume in Toronto
As Toronto hosts two days of high-level TPP talks in an undisclosed location, civil society groups warn that TPP cannot be the basis for Canada’s future trade relationships
A sneak peek into the TPP Citizens’ Report: how we can rebuild public trust in trade processes
The public has lost confidence in trade processes that put the interests of corporate lobbyists before people. But there’s a way back from the brink.
Your shoes, your liquids… and your Facebook password?
Disturbing new proposals in the U.S. could force every traveler to hand over their digital devices and social media passwords. We’re taking action.
We’re taking action: Trump’s attack on Canadian privacy
Trump’s recent attack on Canadian privacy has thrown Canadian data sharing agreements into the spotlight. We’re taking action with the Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada to ask for serious reconsideration of how Canadians should be protected from privacy violations in light of intrusive data sharing.
Canada must urgently reassess data sharing with the U.S.
President Trump's elimination of Privacy Act protections for foreigners calls for the Canadian government to immediately step up and assess what the impacts are of sharing our personal information with the U.S.
The Internet tax is a raw deal for all of us
The Internet Tax – a defeated and deflated policy attempted in Hungary – is making its way to Canada. Yikes!
We’re live at the CRTC!
We're glued to our screens and we know you are too! Find out below all the ways you can follow us at today's CRTC hearing.
This depends on YOU: will you help us take Free Expression to new heights at the Supreme Court?
Your support is vital to ensure our Supreme Court case has impact
Bell promises to run fibre to Churchill, Manitoba — for the small price of acquiring MTS
You can almost smell the desperation as Bell promises to run fibre Internet to Churchill, Manitoba if the MTS takeover deal goes through
As EU publishes strong Net Neutrality rules, Canada cannot afford to fall behind
Canada’s CRTC will soon hold hearings on how best to protect the open Internet: today’s new EU regulations set a positive example.
We’re on record — here’s how we’re going to end data caps
OpenMedia, and some amazing partners, have submitted our first papers on how the Internet should be priced in Canada.
Get ready for independent fibre Internet — today’s CRTC ruling paves the way for more affordable access
The CRTC released two decisions this morning — one that allows indie ISPs to offer fibre at a lower cost and one that will limit choice.
Motherboard reveals that RCMP have been using Stingray devices extensively while indefinitely storing sensitive information on innocent Canadians
Today it was revealed by Motherboard that the RCMP have been extensively using Stingray devices in Canada for the past decade, scooping up the sensitive information of thousands of innocent Canadians in the process.
Let’s end data caps — add your voice as we urge the CRTC to honour the spirit of Net Neutrality
Internet users are mobilizing to seek end to data caps, as new report reveals how Canadians are getting a raw deal on both wired and wireless services.
The final word: How Canadians will have access to high-speed Internet at a fair price
The federal government asked Canadians if broadband Internet should be a basic service — read our TL;DR response or dive into our submission below.
Rogers releases third annual transparency report
Encouraging to see Rogers shed a light on the company’s disclosure of subscriber information to law enforcement and challenge ‘tower dumps’ in court. We hope to see other big telecoms take on similar transparency initiatives.
As Parliament’s TPP roadshow hits Central Canada, citizens continue to push for more openness and transparency
TPP consultations are making their way through the country, but in response to the limited public participation seen on the first few, the Parliament’s trade committee will now include one hour for public comment in each meeting. Find out where and how you can participate.
We’re meeting with Minister Goodale on C-51, and we want you to make sure your voices are heard: What should we say?
We are meeting in person with Canada’s Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness, Ralph Goodale to discuss Bill C-51 and we need you to tell us what you want us to say to him. Comment away below!
WATCH HERE: Making Sense of the TPP, with Nobel laureate Joseph Stiglitz
Do you want to make sense of the Trans-Pacific Partnership? Watch this live stream with experts on the topic, including Nobel laureate Joseph Stiglitz.
OpenMedia demands answers from VPD on potential Stingray cell phone surveillance
BC Office of the Information and Privacy Commissioner could set important precedent for transparency, with its decision on this case.
It’s time for Canada to hold its spy agencies accountable with new framework for oversight and review
OpenMedia has joined civil society organizations from across Canada in a letter to Minister Ralph Goodale about what’s needed to fix our currently deficient oversight model for our spy agencies.
Knee-deep in surveillance: Bill C-51’s unhappy birthday
As Canada marks one year since the introduction of Bill C-51, our Laura Tribe examines where we're at, and the prospects for repealing this controversial bill.
Halt to CSE sharing of metadata is welcome, but comes too late for Canadians whose privacy has already been compromised
Canadian intelligence agency CSE announced they will stop sharing metadata with foreign intelligence agencies after revelations that shared information was not being sufficiently protected. But our privacy rights must come before the intelligence needs of foreign spy agencies.
Jumping the shark: Canada to sign the TPP without public consultation?
Canada’s Trade Minister has finally confirmed that Canada will sign the TPP. But there is still hope, and here’s our Meghan Sali to explain why.
The best thing you can do right now to kill Bill C-51
The battle isn't over - we can still kill Bill C-51 and there's more than one way to do it. Make sure to add your voice!
Important precedent for cell phone privacy in Canada set in landmark ruling
Police request for “tower dump” of user data from over 40,000 Rogers and Telus customers ruled a violation of privacy rights, and lays important groundwork for battling other privacy violations, including StingRay technologies and Bill C-51.
Minister Navdeep Bains: Listen to Internet users and reject Bell Canada’s appeal
This morning, OpenMedia sent an open letter to the Minister of Innovation, Science and Economic Development, Navdeep Bains, urging him to listen to Canadians and reject Bell Canada’s recent appeal to Cabinet.
Kent Roach & Craig Forcese: Press the reset button on security
The ongoing work of Professors Kent Roach and Craig Forcese on C-51 provides the most exhaustive analysis of the bill and is a must-read for anyone concerned with the issue.
Article by Kent Roach and Craig Forcese for the National Post
Security issues are a campaign issue — at least we think they are. To date, little has actually been said on the topic, and what has been said amounts to the parties doubling down on entrenched and vague (even symbolic) positions.
Truth Out: What’s Going On With the TPP?
TPP Update: After years of secret negotiations, we’ve just learned U.S. Trans-Pacific Partnership officials have decided to appoint a “Chief Transparency Officer.” So who did they pick? One of their own lawyers, Tim Reif. Not exactly encouraging. TPP provisions will grievously hurt the Internet and our right to free expression! We need to speak out at StopTheSecrecy.net/Canada
Article by Maira Sutton (EFF) for Truth Out
Voting in CIRA’s 2015 Election will help shape the future of Canada’s Internet
It’s that time again! Some of you may not know this already, but Canada’s Internet is democratically governed. The Canadian Internet Registration Authority (CIRA) is a non-profit organization that manages the dot-ca (.ca) registry and addresses many of the day-to-day challenges facing Internet governance in Canada.
Now, CIRA holds regular elections and, just like electing a politician to represent you in the current federal election, you can elect the CIRA board of directors to represent your views about how Canada’s Internet should be managed.
Globe and Mail: Final push for Pacific Rim pact set for end of September
The TPP deal is closer than we might think!
Are your candidates for or against it? Check here and tell them to oppose this bad deal: OurDigitalFuture.ca/candidate
Article by Steven Chase for The Globe and Mail
An effort to land a massive Pacific Rim free trade agreement within weeks is under way, raising the prospect the wide-ranging Trans-Pacific Partnership could dominate the final stretch of the Canadian election campaign.
Candidates are being flooded with our emails, and it is working!
It’s election time! And your OpenMedia team has been working very hard to make sure Canadians have a direct and easy way to demand candidates from all parties speak up for the Internet we love and deserve. That’s why we’ve launched a handy tool for you to tell your candidates to become a pro-Internet leader and support our action plan crowdsourced by more than 250,000 Canadians. And guess what? It’s working!
Yesterday morning, Green Party leader Elizabeth May was the first party leader to endorse our pro-Internet action plan. And for the past 24 hours, we’ve been hearing from candidates all across the country, an incredible 102 of whom have already declared themselves pro-Internet candidates!
Check out this wonderful letter we received from Mark Bigland-Pritchard, a Green Party candidate for the Saskatoon-Grasswood riding:
CBC: Tories yank ‘24 hour surveillance’ stickers on signs in Harper’s Calgary riding
File this under “So amazing it’s actually true."
Stephen Harper’s constituency team have been busying themselves by adding “24 hour surveillance” stickers to their own election signs. And then removing them when CBC noticed.
Article by Haydn Watters for CBC
Ian Mulgew: Court chooses Internet privacy in limiting police access to text messages
When you send a text message, do you assume it stays just between you and your friend? What about the police?
Article by Ian Mulgew for the Vancouver Sun
The B.C. Court of Appeal has struck a blow for Internet privacy at the expense of letting walk a Nanaimo man accused of drug trafficking because of his text messages.
Globe and Mail: Apple’s monthly instalment price plan for unlocked iPhones eludes Canada
Why can't we have nice things like U.S.'s monthly instalment price plan for iPhones here in Canada?
Article by Christine Dobby for The Globe and Mail
Apple Inc. revealed a new way to buy its flagship device last week – the option to pay for unlocked models of its newest iPhones through monthly instalments. But the arrangement is exclusive to U.S. customers, extending a trend in smartphone shopping that has yet to make its way to Canada.
Never Home: Federal government gives itself unprecedented spying powers
How reckless legislation like Bill C-51 is already affecting families here in Canada.
Article by Never Home
New anti-terror and security legislation grants extraordinary powers for surveillance, secret hearings, and preventative detention in Canada.
Security: Refugees and permanent residents are facing secret trials, deportation or limbo due to tightened security processes. New anti-terror legislation and the secret police bill grant extraordinary powers for surveillance, secret investigative hearings, and preventative detention without charge. Under the vague guise of ‘terrorism,’ citizenship can be revoked from some Canadians.
Aphabeatic: Germany’s broadband plan shames Canada (again)
Germany will have affordable internet connections of at least 50 Mbps by 2018. The Harper government promised 5 Mbps by 2019. Enough said...
Which party do you think will do a better job at ensuring Canadians get faster, cheaper Internet? Let us know in the comments below!
Article by Peter Nowak for Alphabeatic
Geist: Canadian Music Industry Hit With Competition Complaint Over Public Domain Recordings
The internet we love is based on creators being able to freely, cheaply, and easily share their work! #SaveTheLink
Article by Michael Geist
Earlier this year, I wrote about the secret campaign by major record labels and publishers to stop the release of public domain recordings, most notably Beatles records that outsold the offerings from major label records at retail giant Wal-Mart. The campaign included extensive lobbying for an extension in the term of copyright for sound recordings.
CBC: Most kids’ apps, websites collect and share personal information
When it comes to online data collection, children are the most vulnerable audience.
Article by CBC News
Most apps and websites for children collect personal information such as photos and addresses, and many say they may share that information with third parties, an annual global privacy survey suggests.
Star: Trudeau backed C-51, but won’t say if it’s constitutional
Looks like the Liberal Party voted for a bill they're not even sure is constitutional...
Article by the Canadian Press at the Toronto Star
BROSSARD, QUE. — Justin Trudeau won’t say if Bill C-51 — the controversial anti-terror bill introduced by the Conservatives — is constitutional, even though the Liberals backed it in Parliament.
Georgia Straight: OpenMedia encourages voters to consider policies around access, privacy in federal election
Check out this amazing coverage of our pro-Internet election plan on The Georgia Straight! The Internet is something we shouldn’t take for granted. We should take action to have our democratic rights as citizens, to make sure it stays open, accessible and free for everyone. This election, vote for the Internet! OurDigitalFuture.ca
Article by Stephen Hui for the Georgia Straight
Stephen Harper’s Conservative government represents a “lost 10 years” for the Internet in Canada, according to a digital-rights advocate.
2015 election needs to focus on our digital future
Do we really want to drive our local businesses out of town, by failing to provide the digital infrastructure, security and privacy safeguards that they need to operate in a global market? Our own Laura Tribe analyzes the importance of our digital future in the upcoming election. How do you think parties are faring in on these issues? Let us know in the comments below, your feedback will be used to inform how we rate parties.
This article was originally published at Rabble.ca
This election, Canadians can't afford to be caught up in the soundbites, quibbles and petty pandering that our politicians are increasingly levelling at each other. Trudeau's hair? Mulcair's smile? Harper's suit?
Vote as Early as Today!
So you’re out of town or too busy on election day, Oct. 19th. Or perhaps you made up your mind long before debate season. Well here’s some good news: you can vote right now!
Although not everyone knows about early voting, it is a legal option that every Canadian can take advantage of. Voting doesn’t have to be a hassle just because the Fair Elections Act changed some rules of the game, and advanced voting makes things even simpler.
But first things first: find out if you’re registered to vote. There’s a good chance you are, but finding out takes only about a minute. Just go to ereg.elections.ca and press Start. If you’re not registered already, you can do so at the same link, or by visiting or contacting by mail your local Elections Canada office. This is a much easier and faster way to register, just make sure you do it before the deadline on Oct. 13th.
Big Telecom are trying to make the Internet like cable TV and we have to stop them
Last week, one of Canada’s Big Telecom giants announced a controversial new scheme that will give them more power to control how you use the Internet on your mobile devices – and, if we don’t speak up, the Big Three will soon follow suit.
Videotron wants the power to hand-choose which mobile streaming apps and services are more expensive than others. How are they doing this? By bundling them into outdated Cable-TV-style packages for mobile phone users. As a result, they’re giving unfair advantage to the services they decide are “worthy” of our attention and discriminating against others – an anti-user practice that positions them as gatekeepers of our mobile networks, and violates Canada’s open Internet (AKA: Net Neutrality) rules.
Vice: Canadian Cops Want to Search Your Mail
Update: The RCMP is now going after your mail.
Article by Justin Ling for Vice
With a federal election in its home stretch, Canada's chiefs of police have issued a wish list of investigative powers they are hoping that the country's next prime minister can deliver — everything from allowing them to search Canadians' mail, to pulling back the curtain on anonymity online.
Arstechnica: Videotron provoking net neutrality fight with unlimited music
Instead of giving Big Telecom giants the power to choose which online apps and services are more expensive, why don't they treat all services equally? Let's put Canadians in the driver's seat – not these out of touch telecom giants.
Article by Peter Nowak for Arstechnica
Quebec wireless provider Videotron looks to be stepping into a net neutrality battle with a new unlimited music service that boasts “zero data usage.” But is the offer offside Canada’s fair internet rules? Unlike previous, similar situations involving the country’s wireless carriers, this one isn’t as cut and dried.
Rabble: Fact-checking the Conservatives’ rural broadband strategy
The government's rural broadband strategy falls way short of our digital platform and here's why.
We need to fight back by pledging to vote now at OurDigitalFuture.ca
Article by Nora Loreto for Rabble.ca
The 2015 federal election promises to be an ugly fight, with a lot of half-truths and fact twisting. This has been the tone set by the Harper government so far, and it shows no sign of changing course. Luckily, rabble.ca together with our allies will be pulling together real numbers and evidence to refute the mistruths and fact check the election campaign.
National Post: Public servant being investigated for writing and performing anti-Tory ‘Harperman’ song
An Ottawa federal scientist’s job is in danger after he recorded a song speaking out against the government’s politics of fear.
Article by Kathryn May, Post Media News at the National Post
An Ottawa federal scientist is being investigated for breaching the public service’s ethics code for writing and performing a highly political protest song to get rid of the Harper government.
The Register: Canadians taking to spying on their spies
The Internet has changed Canadian politics. Issues like C-51 simply don't go away. This election is our best chance to repeal C-51, pledge your vote at OurDigitalFuture.ca
Article by Trevor Pott for The Register
Comment As Canadians settle in for the longest general election campaign since 1867, some uncomfortable incidents that had been ignored by commercial media outlets are gaining new exposure.
WJS: Study Finds ‘Supercookies’ Used Outside U.S.
Bell Canada is one of the few carriers still using the evil 'supercookies' to track their customers. Thanks, Bell...
Article by Elizabeth Dwoskin for WSJ
Most major US wireless carriers are no longer using controversial identifiers that some researchers call “supercookies,” but their use appears to be extensive overseas.
iPolitics: Top gun advocate turns on Tories, runs as Independent
Huge numbers of conservatives are speaking out against reckless Bill C-51. Despite Harper's Conservatives' efforts to keep the gun lobby in their camp, the sector warns about the dangerous power-grab this legislation gives the security sector, threatening Canadians’ privacy rights. Let's keep fighting until we Kill C-51 --> KillC51.ca
Article by Claire Wahlen
Motherboard: How First Nations Kids Built Their Own Internet Infrastructure
First Nations kids in Ontario found a solution to no high-speed, ridiculously expensive Internet service: they built their own infrastructure. Learn more below, and demand world-class Internet service for 100% of Canadians at UnblockCanada.ca
Article by Jordan Pearson for Motherboard
Yahoo: Super-fast gigabit Internet service finally coming to (some) Canadians
Our own Josh Tabish explains in this article the importance of high-speed fibre Internet for all Canadians and why it took Canada so long to adopt this technology.
Artice by Brian Chin for Yahoo News
If you're tired of waiting for your TV shows or movies to finish downloading, you can now take advantage of Canada's fastest internet.
Prince George Citizen: C-51 opponent Sheldon Clare discusses his candidacy in Cariboo-Prince George
Gun lobbyists and conservative Sheldon Clarke also opposes C-51. Speak out now to get this legislation repealed at KillC51.ca
Article by Charelle Evelyn for the Prince George Citizen
Sheldon Clare touted himself as a "hardware-store conservative" on Tuesday in announcing his run as an independent candidate for Cariboo-Prince George in October's federal election.
CBC: CSIS secrecy hampers complaints and accountability
CBC Radio's The Current discusses the BCCLA/Dogwood challenge against CSIS. Will we ever get to the truth of what did or did not happen? Join us and sign the pledge at https://bccla.org/dont-spy-on-me/
Article by CBC Radio
Dogwood BC is an environmental advocacy group in British Columbia. Its members have campaigned against the Northern Gateway Pipeline, in addition to other causes.
CBC: Leaked Trans-Pacific Partnership draft would force Canada to rework copyright, critics say
If Canada adopts the TPP, it will criminalize your Internet use and force your Internet provider and search engines to censor online content, things the government had consistently rejected throughout the copyright reform process. Speak out now at StoptheSecrecy.net
Article by Zack Dubinsky for CBC
Geist: Netflix Taxes and Canadian Digital Issues in the Election Spotlight
All party leaders should say NO to the Canadian Netflix tax! Here's why this discussion should be one of the important digital issues on the spotlight in the election campaign.
Article by Michael Geist
CBC: Fast fibre-optic internet arrives in many small towns before big cities
Tired of Big Telecom f*ckery, or a lack of affordable high-speed options, communities across Canada are taking Internet access into the own hands by building their own world-class networks outside our telecom giants. We can't say too much now, but we'll be launching a major campaign to increase the number of these networks that exist. Stay tuned for updates after the election 😉
Article by Zach Dubinsky for CBC
Geist: Canadian Government Amends “Caretaker Rules” To Give Itself Power to Continue Negotiating TPP
The next few weeks could play a determining role in the fate of the TPP. And Canada is changing longstanding rules regarding making major decisions during elections that tie the hands of future governments and give the government power to continue negotiating the TPP. Speak out now at StoptheSecrecy.net
Article by Michael Geist
This past weekend was a busy one politically as Canada was launched into a lengthy election campaign just as countries negotiating the latest round of Trans Pacific Partnership negotiations in Hawaii failed to conclude a deal. With reports that there may be a follow-up ministerial meeting within weeks, Canadian officials have been quick to claim that the election campaign will not interfere with the TPP trade talks.
Gearing up for an election against Bill C-51: Interactive timeline
Yes, it’s just about that time again: election season!
Rumours speculate that the federal election may be called as early as this Sunday. And if the OpenMedia community (alongside a broad-based coalition of civil society organizations, businesses, and empassioned Internet users across the country), has anything to do with it — Bill C-51 and privacy will be the key issues we have our politicians talking about this fall.
But before we head into what is sure to be an exciting election season, we wanted to take a look back on just how far we've come. Right from the start, the OpenMedia community has been leading the way in the fight against C-51. The way that this campaign has grown and escalated over the past few months is beyond what we had ever imagined.
Globe and Mail: Tories hope TPP deal is signed before election campaign kickoff
Amidst the final stages of the TPP talks in Hawaii, the government is hoping to reach an agreement before the election campaign kickoff expected to start on Sunday. It's never been more important to send a message to the trade ministers and tell them to say NO to TPP. Send your message now at StoptheSecrecy.net
Article by the Canadian Press for the Globe and Mail
Motherboard: New leak confirms the secretive TPP is a horrorshow
No Big Industry interests were harmed in the making of this agreement. Speak out now at StoptheSecrecy.net
Article by Jordan Pearson for Motherboard
At a luxury hotel in Maui, representatives from the 12 countries participating in the highly controversial and secretive Trans-Pacific Partnership trade deal are negotiatingbehind closed doors. Thanks to a secret letter from a 2013 meeting, released today by WikiLeaks, we now have a clearer idea of what they’re discussing.
CBC: Trans-Pacific Partnership trade talks peak as Canada eyes election timing
Harper might want to stretch the TPP bargaining to minimize electoral risks. But in the middle of an election, the timing is not really up to Canada. Speak out now at StoptheSecrecy.net
Article by Janyce McGregor for CBC
Pity Ed Fast's campaign manager in Abbotsford, B.C.
CTV: File breach at electronic spy agency prompts mandatory privacy training
This is the agency our government is telling us to "just trust" with our secrets?
Article by Jim Bronskill for CTV News
OTTAWA - Canada's electronic spy agency introduced mandatory privacy awareness training for all employees in March following an internal breach involving personal information.
Our crowdsourced policy became government policy. The CRTC heard your call, Canada.
We Won!
As you may have heard, a major ruling on Wednesday from the Canadian Radio-Television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) ensures a significant step forward for Canadians’ ability to access affordable Internet options independent of Canada’s large telecom providers.
In short, the ruling creates fair rules forcing Big Telecom to make their digital infrastructure available to small independent ISPs (i.e., outside of Big Telecom) at a reasonable rate, so they are empowered to sell ultra-fast fibre Internet services to Canadians. This means faster, cheaper fibre connections could be coming to your household soon!
Geist: The real deal about the TPP’s implications for the rights of Canadians
The TPP threatens Canada's privacy, copyright and patent laws. Speak out now at StoptheSecrecy.net
Article by Michael Geist for the Toronto Star
The Trans Pacific Partnership (TPP), a proposed trade agreement that encompasses nearly 40 per cent of world GDP, heads to Hawaii later this month for ministerial-level negotiations.
Toronto Star: Misdialed fax number lead to privacy breach
A privacy breach is obviously a dangerous thing, but it becomes very strange when it comes form a fax machine. Is this the way we send secure documents?
Article by Richard J. Brennan for the Toronto Star
The Liberal government is blaming a misdialed fax machine for a privacy breach affecting hundreds of Ontario Disability Support Program recipients.
Confirmed: We didn’t need Bill C-51
Before C-51, laws and arrangements often allowed for the sharing of information for national security purposes. C-51 adopts an excessive approach that will harm online innovation, political discourse and our civil liberties. Speak out to get it repealed at KillC51.ca
Article by The Canadian Press for CBC
Tyee: Conservative MP repents for part of C-51 sermon
After a whirlwind of mockery on social media, MP Wai Young back-pedalled on some parts of her C-51 sermon...
Article by Jeremy J. Nuttall for The Tyee
Vancouver South MP Wai Young has apologized for one part of a controversial speech to a B.C. congregation, a talk that included a likening of her Conservative party to Jesus Christ.
Motherboard: Canadian police looked into buying hacking software
The Internet, the greatest tool for connectivity that humankind has ever invented, ins in danger of being turned into something it was never intended to be— a tool for governments to spy on the private lives of everybody.
Article by Matthew Braga for Motherboard
Globe and Mail: Trudeau’s support of Bill C-51 weakened the Liberal party
Bill C-51 is so unpopular that is having a major role in the electoral campaign. No matter who wins, this reckless bill should be repealed. Speak out now at KillC51.ca
Article by Jane Taber for The Globe and Mail
John Fenik is the Mayor of Perth, a picturesque community just southwest of Ottawa. A card-carrying Liberal for more than a decade, Mr. Fenik turned in his membership card a couple of months ago, and is now the NDP candidate for Lanark-Frontenac-Kingston, one of the bluest Tory ridings in the country.
T-Mobile free roaming initiative could add fuel to Canada’s wireless market
T-Mobile announced yesterday it will allow its American customers use their service in Canada and Mexico with no extra fees (that's right, free roaming). This new initiative puts the Big Three's roaming plans to shame. Why can't Canadians have nice things?
Article by Peter Nowak for Alphabeatic
A secret deal was proposed between CSIS and Canada Border Services Agency
Before Bill C-51, CSIS shared information with other federal agencies - but they needed the Public Safety Minister's permission. C-51 removes political oversight, giving CSIS access to 16 other agencies information about you without even needing to ask. Speak out now to get the bill repealed at KillC51.ca
Article by Alex Boutillier for the Toronto Star
Canada is going backwards on telecom prices
This article was originally published at Rabble.ca
If you're a Canadian and you own a cell phone, you probably don't need an official report to tell you that you're paying way over the odds.
A glance at your monthly phone bill should be more than enough to remind you that Canadians really do pay some of the highest prices in the industrialized world for this basic necessity of modern day life.
Canadians from coast to coast are speaking up!
Despite massive opposition from hundreds of thousands of everyday Canadians and the country’s top privacy experts, reckless Bill C-51 is now law.
Bill C-51 violates our Charter rights and could lead to dangerous and unconstitutional measures. Above all, it underlines just how stark Canada’s privacy deficit has become.
Throughout this whole process, over 275,000 Canadians have signed the petition against the bill and tens of thousands more have inundated MPs and Senators with letters, phone calls, emails and tweets to express their opposition. We are witnessing one of the largest campaigns in Canadian history.
One of the most powerful actions Canadians are taking is using our Letter-to-the-Editor tool. This powerful tool has enabled Canadians to successfully publish dozens of letters in over 70 major Canadian newspapers, an effective and innovative way to speak out and spread the word in local communities against Bill C-51.
OpenMedia works to keep the Internet open, affordable, and surveillance-free. We create community-driven campaigns to engage, educate, and empower people to safeguard the Internet. Take action now
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