George Radwanski - Privacy Commissioner

Privacy Commissioner

As Privacy Commissioner, Radwanski was outspoken in his criticism of increased surveillance by the state in the wake of the 9-11 attacks early in his tenure and the subsequent "War on Terror". In his annual report in the months following 9-11, he asserted:

"The fundamental human right of privacy in Canada is under assault as never before. Unless the Government of Canada is quickly dissuaded from its present course by Parliamentary action and public insistence, we are on a path that may well lead to the permanent loss not only of privacy rights but also important elements of freedom as we now know it..."

"The Government is, quite simply, using September 11 as an excuse for new that cannot be justified by the requirements of anti-terrorism and that, indeed, have no place in a free and democratic society..."

Radwanski successfully campaigned against and brought an end to major federal government intrusions on privacy rights, including provisions of Bill C-36 that would have undermined the Privacy Act; the opening of letter mail by Customs agents; and the creation of a comprehensive, all-purpose seven-year Canada Customs and Revenue Agency data base on the foreign travel activities of all Canadians. He initiated a Charter challenge, later aborted by his successor, against RCMP video surveillance of public streets as a municipal police force in Kelowna, B.C., and gave 93 speeches in less than three years across Canada and abroad, along with hundreds of media interviews, to raise public awareness about privacy issues in the post-9/11 environment. He also oversaw the smooth implementation of the new federal private sector privacy law, the Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act, that came into effect begiining in 2001.

Radwanski resigned in June 2003, less than half way into his seven year term, while under attack by a parliamentary committee for lavish spending. An investigation by the parliamentary committee charged that he racked up $500,000 in travel and hospitality expenses and misled the Canadian House of Commons over lax spending practices in his office. The committee also accused Radwanski of falsifying a document sent to it. On November 6, 2003, Radwanski apologized to Parliament "without reservation" for showing lack of respect, and expressed remorse for "errors in judgment with regard to administrative and financial matters" during his tenure. MPs later voted unanimously to find him in contempt of Parliament for providing misleading information about his spending.

On March 15, 2006 he was charged with fraud and breach of trust following a 26-month long Royal Canadian Mounted Police investigation into his expense claims while a public servant that was prompted by the Auditor General's report. http://www.thestar.com/NASApp/cs/ContentServer?pagename=thestar/Layout/Article_Type1&c=Article&cid=1142420587696&call_pageid=968332188492&col=968793972154&t=TS_Home] He was fully acquitted on February 13, 2009, although his former chief of staff Art Lamarche was convicted for breach of trust by an Ontario Court judge.