Blog for E-freedom Day one

A matter of urgent importance is required by you as a member of a free and open society, to act upon. Currently there is a draconian bill being presented by the minister for public safety Vic Toews. It would give the government unprecedented access to your online activity. This is a clear violation of your right to reasonable privacy. And if you would permit me to expand on just what that could entail, I will put forth an example. (specifically to those who are of the opinion I have nothing to hide so I have nothing to fear.) Just think of how much information you store online today, how social, geographical,political opinion, lifestyle preferences, banking, and all the other curiosities that your mouse wanders to! Essentially this has become a part of your identity. It has become an integral part of your daily life, and you have established parameters as to which elements you prefer to make public and which elements you prefer to keep private.

 This is your right, in a free and open society. Why should you be assumed guilty without substance, evident intent, or willful deliberation on your part to break the law. This is what  bills like this eventually end up doing.  They cast a broad net over everyone's personal information, then employ police services to sift through looking for criminality. That is not a free society. And who says it has to stop there? And do you really trust their ability to only search for criminality? This is the reason we employ Judges! A police service goes to a judge, says "We have a suspicion against this individual, and here is the evidence to support that suspicion. The judge, "finder of fact" determines if the evidence warrants permission of their request. This is a fair and open society, the society the Harper Government wishes to transform Canada into is quite the opposite.

Please voice your opposition to this bill by which ever way you can. You Must! If you care about your childrens safety and future. And  certainly not in the fear mongering and pandering to the insinuation of guilt by rejection, as Vic Toews tried to do the other day on the floor of the commons by implying that if you are opposed to this bill you support child pornographers. Pure and utter rubbish. This type of alarmist comply or be maligned by association is both infantile and offensive to the real values freedom embraces. But it does speak volumes to the intent and intelligence of the Harper caucus. 

Your children, I have none, deserve the freedom I had, we older Canadians had, as children. We lived first person in the memories of what tyrannies were, what the effects of totalitarianism are and did to populations. We heard the war stories first person, we saw with our eyes the results of what is being again introduced by bills like this. Suspending rights never has or never will guarantee you freedom or safety. It was in that light that Ben Franklin coined that famous quotation. "Those who would give up Essential Liberty to purchase a little Temporary Safety, deserve neither Liberty nor Safety." We need to do better, we need to think better, and we can, and we do. 

Never in the history of mankind has there been a vehicle so precious, so valuable, and so available to all irrespective of class or standing, as the internet. It truly is the tree of liberty refreshed, paid for by the blood of every individual that ever stood up for the cause of liberty and freedom.  And with that liberty comes the challenge of freedom for all. We are not perfect as a race or as a society, not since our beginnings, or through most of our  societal evolution. But we have grown, grown by leaps and bounds. To the point that even under insurmountable obstacles we have been able to keep the light of liberty burning. It is under one of those challenges we must leave the safety of our comfort zones and rise for the right of freedom, even if it means a small portion of our society, ( And do not be deceived by the conservative rhetoric) they are small, choose to abuse the privileges that freedom and liberty offer.

Today even though my time was required elsewhere, I saw the urgency this matter required, and I responded with my small part, I only ask the same of you. Know your rights, and demand that they be honoured, by which ever way you can, if not they will soon be taken away, and the charter reduced to that fine print at the bottom of your Visa statement that says you have rights except for when we the bank decides to change them. 

 Legal Rights

Life, liberty and security of person

7. Everyone has the right to life, liberty and security of the person and the right not to be deprived thereof except in accordance with the principles of fundamental justice.

Search or seizure

8. Everyone has the right to be secure against unreasonable search or seizure.

Detention or imprisonment

9. Everyone has the right not to be arbitrarily detained or imprisoned.

Arrest or detention

10. Everyone has the right on arrest or detention

(a) to be informed promptly of the reasons therefor;

(b) to retain and instruct counsel without delay and to be informed of that right; and

(c) to have the validity of the detention determined by way of habeas corpus and to be released if the detention is not lawful.

Thank you for your time.