CSIS won’t open full Tommy Douglas file
Tommy Douglas, great Canadian politician and subject of RCMP spying
CBC revealed that CSIS is concealing material information contained in their file about the NDP Premier of Saskatchewan and Federal Member of Parliament.
CSIS says it has to protect its sources or covert work will be compromised.
Why did the RCMP even start a file on the elected Premier of Saskatchewan? That’s the first question and why did they continue to spy on Tommy Douglas long after he was elected to the House of Commons?Democracy protest privileges of elected officials allowing them to represent the people. The RCMP should not have authority to investigate sitting members unless criminal activity is alleged, and then only with the permission of the Minister of Justice.
Of course, the answer is that Douglas was a socialist and politically unpopular with Liberals and Conservatives. Being outside the political mainstream is reason number one to be considered a subversive in the Canadian democracy.
Political hegemony in support of the establishment is sacred in Canada. Political dissent, even one is elected, must be reasonable grounds to suspend democratic freedoms.
Canadians gasped and clucked when FBI director J, Edgar Hoover had civil rights activist Dr. Martin Luther King followed and investigated. We have little to be proud of in our own political history.
The people who carried on this work, including their superiors and any elected officials should be identified with the hope this never happens again.
rob mceachern
While Solicitor General, Wayne Easter was denied to see his own file which CSIS had on him. Easter eggs was a vocal National Farmers Union member in his youth. Although the Solicitor General is elected and responsible for CSIS and the RCMP , Easter is just another sheep in sheeps clothing.
Did he speak up about it?? No he towed the party line and kept his lip buttoned down.
Party Politics relies on sheep and PEI has been sending sheep to Ottawa for far to long. They do not stand up for our community unless the party brass approve.