Home / Rights and Liberties / 2008 / Rights and Liberties, Spring 2008, Volume 13, No. 1
Rights and Liberties, Spring 2008, Volume 13, No. 1
Watch Out, They're Watching You
… the Charter is meant to protect those expectations on which we rest our belief that our society is one in which we are not exposed to unauthorized clandestine electronic surveillance on the part of the state. I take it to be beyond dispute that just as we hold to the belief that a free and open society is one in which the state is not free to make unauthorized recordings of our conversations, so too it is no less an article of faith in a society that sets a premium on being left alone that its members presume that they are at liberty to go about their daily business without courting the risk that agents of the state will be surreptitiously filming their every movement.
Justice Gérard La Forest, R. v. Wong, [1990] 3 S.C.R. 36
Video surveillance in public places has been a hot topic in Winnipeg these days. Touted as a tool for crime prevention and security, Winnipeg City Council recently approved a Surveillance Camera Pilot Project for 20 to 30 cameras in so-called high crime areas of the City.1 Toronto established a similar pilot project at a cost of $2 million for 22 cameras, not including the costs related to monitoring or associated police time.2 Winnipeg City Council has also approved the installation of cameras on each of Winnipeg Transit’s 535 buses at a cost of about $3 million.3 The proliferation of cameras in public places should concern us all.
Charter Rights and Legislative Review Committee Update
Despite a slow start this year, the last few months have brought a torrent of legislative activity and new bills which have kept the Charter Rights and Legislative Review Committee (CRLRC) more than busy. Over the last few months, the CRLRC has made submissions before the House on multiple bills including The Testing of Bodily Fluids and Disclosure Act which may require the mandatory testing of blood for things such as HIV. We also raised concerns over amendments to The Child and Family Services Amendment Act which require the reporting of anyone suspected of possessing child pornography.
Education Committee Update
The mandate of the Education Committee is obvious – it is to educate. As a committee we needed to answer who, how and what in order to give direction and substance to our goal. We are very fortunate to have received funding from the Winnipeg Foundation to support the development of a program and resources for senior high school students. Due to their commitment to educating youth, MARL has had the good fortune of hiring Debra Chorney, a qualified teacher, as our program developer.
Communications Committee Update
The Communication Committee has undergone some changes over the course of this year. Michael Conner is now Chair of the Committee, taking over from Joseph Nnadi who worked diligently for many years to keep MARL’s members apprised of the important news. The Committee has also welcomed some new members, both volunteers and from the Board. We look forward to their fresh ideas and energy. In addition to putting together this newsletter and maintaining MARL’s website, the Committee’s mandate has expanded to take on the important role of fundraising.
Newest Board Members
MARL is pleased to welcome four new members to our Board of Directors. They bring a wealth of experience, energy and ideas to our organization.
New Program Developer
In February, Debra Chorney joined MARL as the Program Developer for the new Human Rights Education Program. Debra brings with her a wealth of valuable experience.