Public Safety Minister Gary Anandasangaree says he is open to amending legislation that would make it easier for police to access Canadians’ personal information, as the federal government tries to strike a balance between security and privacy rights.
Speaking before a House of Commons committee, Anandasangaree said he hopes that with “the right type of amendments,” Parliament can move the legislation forward. His comments come amid growing criticism from civil society groups concerned about potential overreach.
The government recently split its broad border security legislation into two separate bills to speed up some measures while giving more time to debate others. Bill C-12, introduced Wednesday, includes less controversial provisions from a June bill, such as expanding the Coast Guard’s role, tightening immigration and refugee processes, improving information sharing on sex offenders, and strengthening controls on chemicals used to manufacture illicit drugs.
The more contentious elements remain in Bill C-2, which would grant authorities new powers to access personal information and search mail. Privacy advocates and civil liberties groups have raised alarms over these measures, arguing they could erode Canadians’ privacy protections.
After the committee session, Anandasangaree said the government is willing to collaborate with law enforcement and civil society to find common ground. “We don’t want people to feel that we’re overreaching and violating their rights,” he said.
The minister’s comments suggest potential adjustments ahead as the government navigates mounting pressure to ensure that new security tools do not come at the expense of Canadians’ civil liberties.