An Unprecedented Intrusion into the Private Lives of Canadians

[:en]When it comes to their personal information, Canadians believe that their government has a duty to protect that information as well as respect the privacy of their personal financial lives. That’s why this week’s news that the Canadian Government is snooping on the financial transactions of Canadians across the country is so shocking.

Newly revealed documents show that Statistics Canada is asking Canadian banks for the financial transaction data and personal information of 500,000 Canadians, without their knowledge or consent, to develop a “new institutional personal information bank.”

The personal banking and financial transactions being requested include bill payments, cash withdrawals from ATMs, credit card payments, electronic money transfers and even account balances of Canadians from coast to coast. Every time you make a withdrawal, pay a bill or transfer funds, your government will know about it – and Canada’s banks and credit unions are powerless to stop it. In fact, they won’t even be allowed to let you know when it’s happening.

Justin Trudeau does not seem to understand that Canadians’ personal financial information belongs to them and they have a right to know when it is being accessed and for what purpose. This is a disturbing and unprecedented intrusion into the private lives of individual Canadians.

As media have reported when this story came to light, it’s such a ridiculous idea that it actually sounds like a crazy conspiracy theory. Sadly for Canadians, it’s not.

While the Prime Minister continues to defend this appalling overreach into Canadians’ private lives, Canadians are left shaking their heads in disbelief.

As the Official Opposition, Canada’s Conservatives will continue to call on Justin Trudeau to protect the privacy of Canadians and put a swift end to this outrageous government intrusion.[:]