Jennifer McPhee
Northern News Services
Yellowknife (Jun 22/01) - Big Brother won't be watching.
George Radwanski, the federal privacy commissioner, has told Centurian Security they can't operate surveillance cameras in downtown Yellowknife.
It was his first decision under the federal Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act, which came into effect in January.
"A private for-profit organization cannot go around collecting personal information," he said.
"No one should have to go through life feeling that someone could be literally or metaphorically looking over their shoulder because then we are not truly free."
Private businesses can collect personal information only with customer consent and only within reasonable limits.
Radwanski sent investigators to look into a complaint filed by Elaine Keenan Bengts, the information and privacy commissioner for the NWT. Based on their findings, he concluded that Centurian's activities violated the Act.
Although the cameras were removed within days of being installed, Centurian president David Beckwith said he will comply with the decision.
Beckwith said the project, which stirred considerable public concern, has caused him enough grief.
"Consider the camera project dead," he said. "I'm not going to take any more threats to my family or to my business."
He added: "When someone gets shot in the downtown area and they are wondering who did it, they'll come crying to me."
Radwanski is in Yellowknife for the annual summit of Canada's information and privacy commissioners.
During three days of meetings they will discuss issues affecting information and privacy.
Speakers include Dr. Eric Holoway of Cancer Care Ontario, Joan Roch and Dr. John Millar of the Canadian Institute for Health Information and MP John Bryden.
They will discuss the impact of technology on privacy in health services, issues surrounding a proposed national health database and access to information.
