Tom Mulcair calls for public inquiry after revelation RCMP spied on journalists

The federal NDP leader is callingon the government to investigate revelations thatRCMPofficers conducted unauthorized surveillance of two journalists in 2007.

"There has to be, rapidly, a public inquiry into how this happened and if higher ups approved it. I've rarely, in my life, seen officers acting on their own in something like this. This is an attempt to stifle the abilities of journalists to do their crucial work in our democracy," TomMulcairsaid.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeauagreed that theRCMPwas out of line to spyon journalistsand he repeated assurances Wednesday that it won't happen again.

Mulcair calls for Public Inquiry into RCMP surveillance of journalists

8 years ago

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NDP Leader Tom Mulcair spoke to reporters after his caucus meeting Wednesday

"It was unacceptable and we've already apologized directly to those journalists," the prime minister said briefly in French on his way into the Liberal caucus meeting Wednesday. "We will ensure that itwill nothappen again."

Canada's public safety minister also condemned the spying, adding the government iscommitted to protecting the freedom of the press.

"This matter has been handled at the highest levels. The responsible officers have been reprimanded and RCMP leadership has reaffirmed the existing policy, which should have been followed," Goodale said in a statement, referring to RCMP rulesthat demand"special care" when dealing with sensitive sectors such asmedia, academia, religionand unions.

CBC News first reported Wednesday that a group of RCMPinvestigatorsplaced two Ottawa-based reporters under physical surveillance for nine days in August, 2007 in the hope it might lead them to identify the source of aleaked CSIS document.

The journalists,Gilles Toupinand Joel-Denis Bellavance, bothwithLa Presse,obtained a secret CSIS document in 2007 about alleged discussions of a terrorist attack on an airliner.Adil Charkaoui, one of the men named in the document, has denied the allegations in court actions against the government and La Presse.

• Exclusive: Mounties probing CSIS leak conducted unauthorized surveillance of 2 journalists
• 2011:Charkaoui believes CSIS leak deliberate, 'disgusting'
• 2007:Reporter questioned in Charkaoui's bid to have bail conditions lifted
• 2007:RCMP will probe leak against alleged Montreal terrorist

The officers spying on the reporters did not obtain the necessary permission from their bosses before launching their surveillance efforts. When they eventually sought approval, they were immediately denied authorization and told to cease the surveillance. They appealed three times before receiving apartial green light from Bob Paulson,then an acting assistant commissioner, months later. That approval was not acted upon.

Paulson has since become the commissioner of the RCMP. When reached by CBC News, Paulson confirmed the surveillance activity. He said he could not confirm this was the only case of the Mounties spying on reporters, though he said he was unaware of other cases.

"It was only partially approved under limited conditions having regard for the fully exhausted alternative avenues and the relatively mild level of intrusiveness.A very last resort if you will. The relatively more intrusive search and seizure technique ... was not approved," he said in a note to CBC News.

Ambrose on RCMP surveillance of two journalists during the Harper government

8 years ago

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Opposition Leader Rona Ambrose was asked about the case by the CBC`s Chris Rands before Question Period today

Mulcairsaid the move to track journalists in an effort to subvert their reporting and arrest their source is affront to thework of reporters.

"Your ability to do your jobs here, in Parliament, is a way of buttressing all of the democratic life in our country. The work of journalists in our political life is essential to guarantee our democracy for all Canadians," he told reporters in the foyer of the House of Commons.