Christopher Parsons (he/him/his)
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Christopher Parsons (he/him/his)
@christopher-parsons.com
Policy wonk. Street photographer. Torontonian. Not necessarily in that order.

Interests: privacy, national security, artificial intelligence, accountability, democratic governance.

Posts are mine, not my employer’s.

https://christopher-parsons.com
Reposted by Christopher Parsons (he/him/his)
Outlook 365 alternately autocompletes my name to “Christ” or (most recently) “Christmas” which is always fun to receive (and, once, accidentally sign off as….)
August 16, 2025 at 4:32 AM
I’d anticipate this to be the case.
July 16, 2025 at 1:17 AM
And with the heightened interest in the north, in particular, I can see reasons why the government may want to send less-militaristic Coast Guard vessels for intel collection vs warships or available underwater collection devices/vessels.
July 16, 2025 at 12:15 AM
Anyways: this just seems like a little clause that isn’t subject to much discussion just yet. Though that may change over time with more eyes assessing and studying the legislation!

You can find the full bill at: www.parl.ca/DocumentView...
Government Bill (House of Commons) C-2 (45-1) - First Reading - Strong Borders Act - Parliament of Canada
Government Bill (House of Commons) C-2 (45-1) - First Reading - Strong Borders Act - Parliament of Canada
www.parl.ca
July 16, 2025 at 12:04 AM
(On 3. — I’m not a Coast Guard expert and so 100% just hypothesizing!)
July 16, 2025 at 12:04 AM
It is also possible these amendments may help Canada to:
1. reach some of its NATO spending objectives
2. establish a statutory authority to expand intelligence collection if certain allied sources are cut off. 3. potentially, lend statutory protections for activities already being undertake.
July 16, 2025 at 12:04 AM
The proposed powers look similar to those associated with the USA’s Coast Guard, which has an intelligence collection function (see, for example, www.dco.uscg.mil/Our-Organiza... or www.intelligence.gov/how-the-ic-w...)
www.dco.uscg.mil
July 16, 2025 at 12:04 AM
The bill then further clarifies that “[i]n exercising the powers and performing the duties and functions assigned to them under section 41, the Minister (…) may collect, analyze and disclose information or intelligence.”
July 16, 2025 at 12:04 AM
The amendments would, by my reading, expand the services offered by the Coast Guard to include:

> (f) security, including security patrols and the collection, analysis and disclosure of information or intelligence.
July 16, 2025 at 12:04 AM
Excellent news! Congratulations!
July 9, 2025 at 6:21 PM
🤩
July 7, 2025 at 11:53 PM
3. Hold regular meaningful consultations with Indigenous and other equity-seeking groups, privacy and human rights advocates, victims' rights groups, and other parties to ensure consideration and integration of a broad range of perspectives on the privacy and human rights impact of police use of IGG
June 24, 2025 at 11:36 PM