A House of Commons committee had less than an hour to question and evaluate the appropriateness of a candidate for Privacy Commissioner, before a government MP proposed the committee recommend Daniel Therrien to the position on Tuesday (June 3).
Therrien’s appointment has been questioned by opposition MPs because of the kind of work he did during his career as a public servant.
Canada’s Official Opposition NDP Leader Thomas Mulcair wrote to the prime saying that throughout his career Therrien “has helped develop and implement several government initiatives on public safety that have been criticized for their failure to protect our fundamental rights. It would be imprudent to place a former civil servant in charge of warning the public about policies that he helped design and implement.”
RCI’s Wojtek Gwiazda has a report.
ListenMore information:
House of Commons committee hearing questioning of Daniel Therrien – here
RCI – Neutrality, detachment, of Prime Minister’s choice for privacy commissioner questioned – here
RCI – Bill to prevent Internet bullying, also gives wide surveillance powers, critics say – here
Update June 4, 2014:
Halifax Chronicle Herald/Paul McLeod – Therrien’s position on detainees raises concern – here
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