Canadians Overwhelmingly Opposed to Online Spying Bill C-13, Poll Shows

An opinion poll released by Forum Research reveals strong opposition to Peter MacKay’s Bill C-13.

The poll shows that 73% of Canadians oppose C-13, with just 15% approving a ratio of nearly 5 to 1.

The poll results deal a second blow to the government’s spying bill in less than a week, following last Friday’s historic Supreme Court of Canada decision that warrantless spying is unconstitutional. The government has ignored repeated calls to reform the bill from privacy experts, public interest groups, elder statesmen in their own party, and even their own Privacy Commissioner, according to Vancouver-based internet advocacy group OpenMedia.

“This poll reflects how Canadians have come together from right across the political spectrum to oppose Peter MacKay’s reckless and irresponsible spying bill,” said Steve Anderson, Executive Director of OpenMedia.

According to Forum Research, opposition spans every age group and is strongest among 18-34 year olds (78%) and 55-64 year olds (74%).

“This government has a terrible track record on privacy and I hope this poll encourages Peter MacKay and the Harper government to pull back on their insulting and reckless online spying legislation,” Anderson added.

Opposition is consistent across income levels, particularly among those earning $40-60k (78%) and $80-100k (78%) per year, according to the poll.

“Privacy is a fundamental human right and a core Canadian value,” Anderson said. “The government has mismanaged our data security and it’s past time we begin to address the privacy deficit they’ve put this country in.”

Photo: Canadian Press