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Lorna Mills and Sally McKay
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CSIS was formed to spy domestically, but with the government oversight that the RCMP lacked. (yup, that sure made a difference) But, bless their little hearts, they meant well. And until September 11, to most of us (those who didn't belong to a trade union, left wing political party, anti-globalization organization etc.), they still had an endearing image as lovable bumblers, leaving government issued laptops in their cars, only to be stolen from the parked vehicle while they were watching a hockey game at Maple Leaf Gardens.
Could happen to anyone. You remove your wet footwear at the door and before you know it, someone's stolen your shoe phone.
From an especially hard hitting November 16, 1999 Hansard debate on this theft:
Mr. Jim Abbott (Kootenay-Columbia, Ref.): Mr. Speaker, we know that top secret documents were stolen from a CSIS operative. In the minister's own words, he received a report from CSIS immediately.
I remind him that section 20, paragraph 2 of the CSIS act says specifically that the minister in turn must send the report with his comments to the Attorney General of Canada and SIRC. He did not do this. Why did the minister break the law?
The Speaker: I ask members to be very judicious in their choice of words.
Hon. Lawrence MacAulay (Solicitor General of Canada, Lib.): Mr. Speaker, when I was informed by the director of CSIS, he also informed me that the inspector general was conducting an investigation, CSIS was conducting an investigation, and the process was proceeding as it should proceed.
Mr. Jim Abbott (Kootenay-Columbia, Ref.): Mr. Speaker, I will read section 20(2) to the solicitor general again. It says that the minister in turn must send the report with his comments to the Attorney General of Canada and to the Security Intelligence Review Committee.
He did not do that. He received a report from CSIS. He did not send the report to the Security Intelligence Review Committee. Is that not a breaking of this statute?
Hon. Lawrence MacAulay (Solicitor General of Canada, Lib.): Mr. Speaker, as I indicated to my hon. colleague, the director of CSIS verbally indicated to me what happened and at the same time he indicated to me that the inspector general of CSIS was conducting an investigation and that CSIS was conducting an investigation"
And a Jolly time was had by all.
I found the above exchange on Jim Abbott's web site after some random googles on the subject. He seems to be actually proud of this.
