While this may seem like a mean spirited headline, Lamer actually refers to Antonio Lamer. He is the watchdog in charge of overseeing the Communications Security Establishment (CSE). According to his annual report the CSE is going out of it’s way to keep him none the wiser.
The disagreement raises questions about whether Mr. Lamer, as CSE commissioner, can provide full assurances that the spy agency is meeting all legal requirements.
The Ottawa-based CSE, an ultra-secret wing of the Defence Department, monitors foreign radio, telephone, fax, satellite and computer traffic for information of interest to Canada. The intelligence is used in support of Canadian crime-fighting, defence and trade policies.
This is an interesting question when you take into account the domestic spying abuses that the Bush Administration has inflicted on the American people. The CSE, much like the NSA is not permitted to spy on Canadians.
However, the Anti-Terrorism Act of 2001 gave the CSE authority to tap into conversations and messages even if those communications begin or end in Canada.
For instance, the CSE could now intercept a phone call from a member of Osama bin Laden’s al-Qaeda network somewhere in Asia to a residence in Montreal.
From Lamer’s report “The lack of clarity in this regard has made it difficult for my staff to assess compliance with certain of the conditions that the legislation requires to be satisfied before a ministerial authorization is given.†One to watch.
[tags]CSE, NSA, Lamer, Bush, Lack of clarity, Ottawa, Wiretap[/tags]
