The Liberal government on Wednesday tabled a new version of its sweeping border security bill that removes a controversial proposal to make it easier for police to access Canadians’ internet data without a warrant.
But Public Safety Minister Gary Anandasangaree said he still wants those “lawful access” powers, as well as other parts of Bill C-2 that raised privacy concerns, to be considered separately while hopefully gaining “broader support” for the border and immigration changes that will now be prioritized under the new bill.
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The so-called “lawful access” provision in the original bill, dubbed the Strong Borders Act, would have allowed law enforcement to demand subscription and transmission data from any online provider in Canada without a judicial warrant under a threshold privacy experts warned was dangerously low.
The new bill also removes a provision that would have expanded the ability to inspect Canada Post mail, and an anti-money laundering measure that would have set a $10,000 limit for cash payments and deposits.
Conservatives had said in recent days they wouldn’t support Bill C-2 unless those powers were removed, threatening the minority Liberals’ chance to pass legislation they have said would address border security demands from the Trump administration.
EDITOR’S NOTE: An earlier headline incorrectly stated that the Liberals were axing the plan to let police access online data without a warrant. This has been corrected. They tabled new border bill legislation that does not include that provision, but say they will still pursue it under separate legislation.
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