Press Releases

Event to Inform Criticism of Proposed Bills That Would Allow Warrantless Electronic Spying

Ottawa, ON – In response to proposed bills that would allow warrantless electronic surveillance of Canadians, the Ottawa community is invited to join digital affairs experts and political representatives—including the NDP's Charlie Angus and the Green Party's Elizabeth May—for a lively panel discussion. The event, sponsored by a growing list of public interest organizations, will take place Wednesday, February 8, at the St. Paul University Amphitheatre (223 Main Street).

The Political Panel will be moderated by the prolific digital affairs critic Michael Geist, the Canada Research Chair for Internet and E-commerce Law. To begin, however, a panel featuring some of Canada’s sharpest minds—including cybersecurity specialist Christopher Parsons and communications law expert Kirsten R. Embree—will detail the dangers of the federal government’s impending "Lawful Access" legislation, dubbed "Online Spying" by Canadians. Read more »

Police lobby sends a call-out amidst lingering questions about upcoming bills

January 18, 2011— The Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police (CACP) is scrambling to find ways to justify upcoming bills that would allow warrantless surveillance of law-abiding Canadians’ online private information, says pro-Internet group OpenMedia.ca.

OpenMedia.ca today released the contents of an message that the CACP recently sent to law enforcement officials, which asks them to provide examples, even those with “confidential operational information”, of situations in which current privacy provisions have hindered investigations. The CACP is attempting to counter what they call “ill-informed criticism” from the public in regards to the proposed legislation—known as the “Lawful Access” or “online spying” bills. Read more »

Event to bring attention to bills that would allow warrantless online spying

January 12, 2011—In response to the government’s proposed online spying bills OpenMedia.ca will host the Vancouver premiere of the mini-documentary (Un)Lawful Access: Canadian Experts on the State of Cyber-Surveillance on Thursday, January 12, at the W2 Media Cafe (111 W. Hastings St., Vancouver).

This event is more than just a screening: it will include a panel discussion featuring BC Privacy Commissioner Elizabeth Denham, and will serve as the launch of the BC Civil Liberties Association's much-anticipated report on online spying: Moving Toward a Surveillance Society – Proposals to Expand “Lawful Access” in Canada.

The report—considered the most comprehensive to date—puts the final nail in the coffin of the hotly contested online spying bills. Read more »

OpenMedia.ca says Big Telecom companies snuck pricing hikes into CRTC decision

January 4, 2012 – OpenMedia.ca is asking the CRTC to conduct a transparent audit and review of Internet infrastructure costs. The group’s campaign against usage-based billing this year resulted in a reexamination of the policy, structure, and costs associated with access to Internet infrastructure. OpenMedia.ca is now reporting that big telecom companies appear to have convinced the CRTC to include punitive and greatly inflated cost in the new Internet pricing model.

In response to these costs, indie ISP Teksavvy just announced that they will have to raise most of their rates between $3 and $4. Teksavvy also wrote, however, that they would be still be able to offer unlimited packages, and more flexible usage-based packages due to the recent CRTC decision on Internet metering. Read more »

WHAT:
Bell, Canada's largest Internet provider, has decided to pull back some of the discriminatory restrictions it has been imposing on the Internet for the last several years, namely the slowing (throttling) of online content.

Over the last few years, many Canadian ISPs have attempted to justify Internet openness violations by claiming that certain types of traffic make their networks unmanageable. Bell’s move today demonstrates clearly that this is not the case.

This announcement is further evidence that ISPs are breaking Internet openness rules when they restrict access to online services. Read more »

CRTC reconsiders ruling that would let Big Telecom companies control independent competitors, Canadians urged to use indie services

November 15, 2011 – The CRTC has released its decision on Internet metering (usage-based billing), and pro-Internet organization OpenMedia.ca is celebrating it as a step forward for the open and affordable Internet. The decision comes as the result of public pressure, channeled primarily through the group’s Stop The Meter campaign, which included a petition that attracted over half-a-million Canadians.

While there is easily room for criticism, the CRTC’s decision today should allow independent ISPs to survive and help them facilitate an unlimited and unmetered Internet for Canadians. Unfortunately, many Canadians will continue to lack independent, affordable, unmetered Internet access.   Read more »

OpenMedia.ca commends LPC House Leader Garneau for standing up for Canadians’ privacy rights

November 8, 2011 – The movement against online spying took one giant leap today when Marc Garneau, the Liberal Party of Canada’s House Leader, released the party’s position on the pending online spying (“Lawful Access”) bills. The Liberals’ statement is in line with concerns expressed by OpenMedia.ca, the Stop Online Spying Coalition, Canada’s Privacy Commissioners, and the 75,000+ Canadians who have signed the petition at http://StopSpying.ca. Read more »

Letter to Toews from Office of the Privacy Commissioner condemns online spying bills

October 27, 2011 – The federal Privacy Commissioner, Jennifer Stoddart, sent another letter to Public Safety Minister Vic Toews today, warning him about the implications of the proposed online spying legislation. The letter touches on many of the points raised by pro-Internet organization OpenMedia.ca, which in partnership with the Stop Online Spying Coalition, hosts a 75,000-strong petition and public engagement campaign in opposition to online spying. Read more »

Gamers demonstrate Rogers’ restrictions, ask for open access to online games

October 17, 2011—The Canadian Gamers Organization (CGO), a group currently at the forefront of the fight for net neutrality (Internet openness), has submitted their final response to the CRTC’s request for information. The CGO has been fighting Rogers for discriminating against online applications—namely World of Warcraft and Call of Duty Black Ops—using illegitimate Internet traffic management practices.

The filing comes after months of back and forth between Rogers, the CRTC and the CGO. Read more »

Amendment to PIPEDA Gives ISPs Carte Blanche to Give out Customer Information

September 29, 2011 – As Canada waits for the Conservatives to introduce their warrantless online spying bills (Lawful Access), the government today introduced a bill that takes a step toward eroding the privacy rights of Internet users. The bill amends PIPEDA—Canada's federal privacy protection statute—in a way that would allow ISPs to provide Canadians’ private information to a range of ‘authorities’, including private companies contemplating lawsuits. Read more »

September 21, 2011 – The CRTC’s decision on vertical integration today is nothing more than a half-measure, says citizen engagement organization OpenMedia.ca. Earlier this year the group hosted a 500,000-strong campaign against usage-based billing—a problem stemming from a distinct lack of competition in the Internet service market and vertical integration. While the examination of vertical integration was an important step in itself, the results are less than impressive. Read more »

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WHO:
Steve Anderson, Executive Director, OpenMedia.ca
Vincent Gogolek, Executive Director, BC Freedom of Information and Privacy Association
Tamir Israel, Staff Lawyer, Canadian Internet Policy and Public Interest Clinic
Charles Tanguay (French-language contact), Union des consommateurs

WHAT: Read more »

As Parliament prepares to resume Canadians launch three online videos to let Canadians know about the government’s plan.

Proposed bill will allow authorities to access private information of any Canadian, at any time, without a warrant.

September 15, 2011 – OpenMedia.ca just launched three PSA-style videos as part of a citizen-led public education campaign to raise awareness about impending electronic surveillance laws. The Conservative government is putting the finishing touches on a set of bills that will force every phone and Internet provider to surrender Canadians’ personal information to "authorities," without a warrant. In a recent survey, 8 out of 10 Canadians were opposed to the legislation. Read more »

Joint letter questions why government is avoiding debate on 'chilling' legislation

August 9, 2011 – A group of academics and public interest organizations released a joint letter to Prime Minister Stephen Harper today, voicing their grave concerns about legislation that would allow for warrantless online spying on Canadians ("Lawful Access" legislation). The letter calls on the government to, at minimum, give the proposed legislation an appropriate hearing instead of rushing it through Parliament. Read more »