Public Safety Minister Gary Anandasangaree says he is now open to shortening the time electronic service providers would be required to keep digital metadata under a proposed bill intended to help police and spies.
Just days ago, Anandasangaree flatly rejected the idea of changing a provision in the legislation that could require service providers to retain metadata — digital traces of a communication, but not the email or text itself — for up to one year.
Critics of the provision say the measure would allow for the capture of private information about ordinary Canadians who have no connection to any crime.
University of Ottawa law professor Michael Geist told the House of Commons public safety committee the stored metadata, including location information, would amount to “a comprehensive surveillance map of virtually every Canadian.”
In an interview Tuesday, Anandasangaree said that after further discussions with people interested in the bill, the government is more open now to shortening the maximum time frame of one year.
The government is expected to propose several changes to the bill at the public safety committee, which is going through the legislation clause by clause.
The Liberals say the bill will ensure law enforcement agencies have the legal tools to prevent, investigate and respond to modern crime and protect Canadians in a manner consistent with the Charter of Rights and Freedoms.
Opponents argue the legislation unnecessarily expands the powers of police and intelligence agencies, endangering privacy, flouting the Charter and making Canada less attractive to business.
The first section of the legislation would allow authorities to demand that a telecommunications provider such as Bell or Rogers reveal whether it provides service to an individual or a number of interest — a measure intended to speed up investigations.
The second part would require electronic service providers to develop and maintain the technical capabilities to enable police and the Canadian Security Intelligence Service to obtain communications and information for their probes.
