statism watch

The Toronto Star
July 4, 2008

The TTC is no longer considering arming its special constables with Tasers and guns.

Firearms for transit police were among the options being studied by an outside consultant hired to do a health and safety risk assessment of the job.

But the terms of the assessment were changed in May to exclude Tasers and guns, TTC spokesperson Brad Ross said yesterday.

Ross stressed the $100,000 review is designed to maximize the safety of the 95 special constables, TTC employees and passengers, and protect TTC property.

It now will focus on what special constables can do without firearms to ensure th e greatest safety for all concerned, Ross said.

Special constables, who make about 950 arrests annually, already have expandable batons, handcuffs, pepper spray and Kevlar vests at their disposal. Many are former police officers.

The TTC review of special constables will be issued later this year by a consulting firm called the Centre for Security Training and Management Inc.

Source | See Also: TTC Considers Treating Employees Like Criminals with Forced Drug Testing | Police chief counsels caution on Tasers | TTC studies using Tasers | Privacy International responds to Ontario Privacy Commissioner ruling on CCTV | Ontario privacy chief gives green light to TTC surveillance plans | T.T.C. Starts Camera Installation On Buses & Streetcars | Privacy issues surround planned TTC cameras | TTC’s cameras face privacy probe | Photo surveillance on Toronto Transit System aims to snap every user

Colin Perkel, Canadian Press
July 4, 2008

Refugee board ordered to take another look at war dodger’s failed asylum bid

Canada’s refugee board has been ordered to take another look at an American deserter’s failed bid for asylum in an unprecedented court ruling that could affect scores of other U.S. soldiers who’ve refused to fight in Iraq.

In a decision released Friday, the Federal Court found the Immigration and Refugee Board had erred in turning down Joshua Key’s claim for asylum.

“It’s quite a statement,” Key told The Canadian Press from his home in Saskatchewan.

“It makes us feel good — probably everybody within this whole process.”

Key, 30, served as a combat engineer for eight months in Iraq 2003, where he said American soldiers committed savage acts against civilians and routinely killed innocent people.

In its decision, the board decided that while Key may have had to violate the Geneva Conventions in Iraq, he could not claim refugee status because he was not required to systematically commit war crimes.

Federal Court Justice Robert Barnes disagreed with that analysis.

A soldier who refuses to take part in military action which “systematically degrades, abuses or humiliates” either combatants or non-combatants might qualify as a refugee, Barnes wrote.

“Officially condoned military misconduct falling well short of a war crime may support a claim to refugee protection.”

Full Story | See Also: MPs vote to give asylum to U.S. deserters, Tories say no | U.S. soldier who fled to Canada ordered deported

CBC News
July 4, 2008

Nearly half of Canadians say they have refused to give personal information to a retailer, according to a survey commissioned by the federal privacy commissioner.

The survey also found that one in two Canadians said they have questioned a retailer why they need a name, postal code or address.

Consumers said they were reluctant to provide names, addresses and postal codes to retailers, citing fears of fraud and identity theft. About a quarter of the respondents also said they could see no reason for the retailer to collect the data.

The results indicate consumers are showing a considerable amount of savvy, Privacy Commissioner Jennifer Stoddart said Thursday.

“Our personal information is increasingly invaluable in the marketplace, and I am very pleased to hear that consumers are taking charge and questioning requests for their information,” Stoddart said in a release.

“I recognize that businesses have a need to better know and understand their customers, but if they can’t give you a good reason for why they need your personal information, simply don’t give it out.”

The survey also found 13 per cent of respondents have provided false information.

The telephone survey, conducted by Ipsos-Reid, was conducted Dec. 11-16, 2007 and involved approximately 1,000 adults. The margin of error is 3.1 percentage points, 19 times out of 20.

Nearly half of Canadians say they have refused to give personal information to a retailer, according to a survey commissioned by the federal privacy commissioner.

The survey also found that one in two Canadians said they have questioned a retailer why they need a name, postal code or address.

Consumers said they were reluctant to provide names, addresses and postal codes to retailers, citing fears of fraud and identity theft. About a quarter of the respondents also said they could see no reason for the retailer to collect the data.

The results indicate consumers are showing a considerable amount of savvy, Privacy Commissioner Jennifer Stoddart said Thursday.

“Our personal information is increasingly invaluable in the marketplace, and I am very pleased to hear that consumers are taking charge and questioning requests for their information,” Stoddart said in a release.

“I recognize that businesses have a need to better know and understand their customers, but if they can’t give you a good reason for why they need your personal information, simply don’t give it out.”

The survey also found 13 per cent of respondents have provided false information.

The telephone survey, conducted by Ipsos-Reid, was conducted Dec. 11-16, 2007 and involved approximately 1,000 adults. The margin of error is 3.1 percentage points, 19 times out of 20.

Source | See Also: Stolen laptop contained 32,000 farmers’ financial data | Privacy breaches ‘epidemic,’ commissioner says | Billboards that look back | Ontario Privacy Czar Worried about High-Tech Licences | Bell accused of privacy invasion | Toronto Residents Furious Over RFID Garbage Bins | North American ID card in the works through SPP | FBI wants instant access to British, Canadian identity data | Alberta privacy commission to rule on bar scans | Security measures threaten privacy, Canadians fear | Government moving to access personal info, sparking privacy fears