June 29, 2012 - 5:03 PM
OTTAWA - The federal privacy watchdog says the perimeter security deal puts the personal information of Canadians at risk because in some cases it allows the United States to pass that data to other countries without permission.
Assistant privacy commissioner Chantal Bernier says a new agreement on how information will be handled under the Canada-U.S. security pact means personal details about Canadians could be passed to a country with a poor human rights record.
She says the principle on sharing information — included in a 12-point Canada-U.S. privacy charter released Thursday — falls short of the standard recommended by the federal commission of inquiry that examined the Maher Arar torture case.
Bernier says that overall the principles contain some fundamental building blocks of good privacy practice, including the right to see and verify the personal information governments hold, the right to seek correction or redress, and safeguards to ensure data doesn't fall into the wrong hands.
But she expressed concern that the privacy principles are non-binding.
The office of Public Safety Minister Vic Toews did not have an immediate response.
News from © The Canadian Press, 2012