The Terry Project on CiTR #49: Harper, Civil Liberties and the Secret History of Canadian Spying

Ottawa was attacked, and the Prime Minister responded by calling for increased powers of security and surveillance. What is the state of civil liberties in Harper’s Canada? We speak to lawyers and activists who are worried. But, how should we respond? A political scientist says he’s found some lessons in the Shield of Achilles. Also, we reveal the secret history of Canadian spying.



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Chapter 1: The Shield of Achilles

Ottawa was attacked. How do our politicians use our fear and our pain to their advantage? Chris Erickson, a professor of political science at UBC, analyzes Stephen Harper’s words for something he calls ‘shield logic,’ from Erickson’s book, The Poetics of Fear.

Chapter 2: Civil Liberties in the age of Stephen Harper

Lawyers and activists are worried that the federal government is over-reaching in their response to the Ottawa attack.

Chapter 3: The Secret History of Canadian Spying

For over 150 years, Canadian police spent most of their time keeping tabs on Canadians dissendents, not foreign enemies. In Secret Service: Political Policing in Canada, Reg Whitaker, Gregory Kealey and Andrew Parnaby reveal the secret history of Canadian spying.