Category Archives: Privacy and Surveillance

GSAs in Alberta (Even Doug Ford Does It Better)

Posted on June 16, 2019 by susanonthesoapbox

It started when the Kenney government introduced Bill 8, the Education Amendment Act which they said would provide “the strongest statutory protections” for gay-straight alliances (GSAs) in the country.  It ended with a news release issued by Education Minister LaGrange … Continue reading →

Posted in Education, Politics and Government, Privacy and Surveillance | Tagged , , , , | 13 Comments

The UCP Runs Away from the Bubble Zone

Posted on April 15, 2018 by susanonthesoapbox

Last week the NDP government introduced Bill 9 which will create a 50-metre bubble zone of safety and privacy for women accessing healthcare, including abortions and other reproductive health services,* in Calgary and Edmonton. Jason Kenney and the UCP caucus … Continue reading →

Posted in Economy, General Health Care, Politics and Government, Privacy and Surveillance | Tagged , , , , | 36 Comments

The Attack on Gay-Straight Alliances Continues

Posted on April 8, 2018 by susanonthesoapbox

Last week the Justice Centre for Constitutional Freedoms (JCCF) brought a court application challenging the constitutionality of changes to the School Act which are intended to support the establishment of gay-straight alliances (GSAs) in Alberta schools. Just to get our … Continue reading →

Posted in Education, Politics and Government, Privacy and Surveillance | Tagged , , | 40 Comments

How to Stay Under the Radar When Bill C-51 Becomes Law

Posted on March 22, 2015 by susanonthesoapbox

Bill C-51 is an omnibus anti-terrorism bill that grants CSIS new information sharing powers and converts CSIS from a covert intelligence gathering organization to a covert enforcement agency. No wonder Canadians don’t know what the heck is going on!   … Continue reading →

Posted in Crime and Justice, Politics and Government, Privacy and Surveillance | Tagged , , , , , , , | 21 Comments

Ralph Nader’s Open Letter to Stephen Harper

Posted on February 24, 2015 by susanonthesoapbox

February 18, 2015 The Right Honourable Stephen Harper, P.C., M.P. 80 Wellington Street Ottawa, ON K1A 0A2 Dear Prime Minister: Many Americans love Canada and the specific benefits that have come to our country from our northern neighbor’s many achievements … Continue reading →

Posted in Crime and Justice, Politics and Government, Privacy and Surveillance | Tagged , , , , | 23 Comments

Fortress Calgary: The “Gate” in Mahogany Manor

Posted on December 7, 2014 by susanonthesoapbox

What is it about gated communities that sends us into orbit? Calgary Planning Commission (CPC) just approved the construction of a “gate” in the southern Calgary to keep the hoi polloi out of Mahogany Manor despite the fact that the … Continue reading →

Posted in Crime and Justice, Privacy and Surveillance, Rich and/or Famous, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , | 26 Comments

CSEC Exonerated

Posted on February 14, 2014 by susanonthesoapbox

Mr Jean-Pierre Plouffe, CSEC watchdog, has determined that CSEC is off the hook,it did not direct any activity at Canadians or persons in Canada.  He’s hanging his hat on the distinction between “collecting metadata” and “tracking Canadians”.  I guess if CSEC … Continue reading →

Posted in Politics and Government, Privacy and Surveillance | Tagged , , , | 9 Comments

CSEC Letter from Wayne Easter Liberal MP

Posted on February 7, 2014 by susanonthesoapbox

Last week I sent a letter to Justin Trudeau and Liberal MP Wayne Easter expressing support the Liberal bill that would impose parliamentary oversight over CSEC.  Here is Mr Easter’s reply.  I copied my letter to the Prime Minister, his … Continue reading →

Posted in Privacy and Surveillance, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , | 16 Comments

Forget “Angry Birds” Where are the Angry Canadians?

Posted on February 2, 2014 by susanonthesoapbox

Saturday’s headline in Canada’s “newspaper of record”, The Globe and Mail, was not “Harper government caught spying on Canadians” but “Rob Ford admits jaywalking ticket in Vancouver”.  Are you kidding me??? Let’s review the week, shall we? It started with … Continue reading →

Posted in Crime and Justice, Politics and Government, Privacy and Surveillance | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 23 Comments

The Buck Stops Here — Privacy 101 for Minister Horne — A guest blog by lawyer Brian Thiessen

Posted on January 25, 2014 by susanonthesoapbox

Susan on the Soapbox welcomes her first guest blogger.  Employment and privacy lawyer Brian Thiessen has a few words to say about a privacy breach that impacts 620,000 Albertans.  The title says it all.  The Buck Stops Here–Privacy 101 for … Continue reading →

Posted in Alberta Health Care, General Health Care, Guest Bloggers, Politics and Government, Privacy and Surveillance | Tagged , , , , , | 21 Comments