Online spy bill troubling

Despite being very outspoken on the question of crime, Prime Minister Stephen Harper seems far from eager to discuss Bill C-30 — which will allow online spying without a warrant.

The proposed legislation will force every phone and Internet provider to allow “authorities” to collect the private information of any Canadian, at any time, without a warrant. It is:

● Warrantless: A range of “authorities” will have the ability to invade the private lives of law-abiding Canadians without justification.

● Invasive: The laws leave our personal and financial information less secure and more susceptible to cybercrime.

● Costly: Internet service providers may be forced to install millions of dollars worth of spying technology and the cost will be passed down to you. My own ISP, a small co-operative, will not be able to afford this.

Any proposals to expand telecommunications surveillance must be based on a clear need for new powers, which must be demonstrated by verifiable evidence. And these new powers must include comprehensive internal controls, clear oversight, meaningful deterrents, and a system of enforcement. Ross Ashley, Toronto

To bomb or not to bomb Syria? Re Bomb Assad palaces and army barracks,

Opinion June 3 I am very disappointed and shocked that Haroon Siddiqui would advocate the bombing of Bashar Assad’s palaces and army barracks. He of all people should realize that this would be a contravention of international law, that it would set a dangerous precedent, that innocent lives would be put at risk and that it would inevitably lead to uncontrollable violence in the region.

To the extent that Assad and his regime have committed any crimes, they should be brought to justice only through the full support of the United Nations and the International Court of Justice. This unilateral approach is reminiscent of Stephen Harper’s disdain for the UN that your editorial so rightly addresses and should not be espoused by Canada or for that matter Mr. Siddiqui. Charles Evans, Toronto

Don’t be surprised when pitbull bites

Re Real economy suffers under Harper, June 2 Canadians are just too nice, too trusting, too gullible. Shocked expressions on the faces of our politicians. “We bailed out GM in 2009 and adjusted health benefits to make our auto production more like the U.S., now look what they are doing. There is no gratitude in the international corporate system.”

Surprise! That’s what corporations are built to do. Don’t be surprised when the supposed pet pitbull bites you.

Our political representatives have encouraged and promoted the takeover by foreign-owned corporations of almost all of Canada’s resources. We happily send our raw materials, whether it’s oil or timber or minerals, to other countries for the valuable processing.

Sadly, the gullibility of our politicians is exceeded only by the gullibility of the people who elected them.

John Souvage, Burlington

Don’t pack firewood when camping Re How to make camping trips even cheaper,

June 4 While bringing wood from home may save the casual camper a few dollars a day, it comes at a greater expense. Conservation groups, as well as provincial and federal governments, have been campaigning for years to raise awareness about human-assisted migration of invasive species. A prominent example in Ontario is the campaign to slow the spread of Emerald Ash Borer, a beetle native to Asia that is sweeping across North America killing millions of ash trees in its path.

Once introduced, invasives like Emerald Ash Borer are difficult to eradicate. The strategy is to control the spread by preventing transport of infested materials. Public awareness is an important component of this strategy.

We are a not-for-profit organization dedicated to raising awareness and understanding of all aspects of Ontario’s forests. Invasive species pose a significant threat to our forests and we feel it is important to speak out on this topic. Mike Halferty, Forestry Programs Manager, Ontario Forestry Association