Bruce Pardy: The Duties of the Administrative State
Commentary
When it comes to potential collusion with foreign governments, forget about the Members of Parliament. According to the RCMP, the real concern lies with the House of Commons pages. While MPs suspected of foreign election interference are protected from identification, House of Commons staff are required to undergo fingerprinting. This situation highlights how serious threats to the country may go unnoticed, while innocent individuals are subjected to state surveillance. Canada serves as a prime example of how the managerial state operates.
In June, the National Security and Intelligence Committee of Parliamentarians (NSICOP) presented a redacted report indicating that at least 11 sitting MPs might have been influenced by foreign election interference. RCMP Commissioner Mike Duheme advised against disclosing their identities. It wasn’t until October 28 when Kevin Vuong, a former Liberal MP now serving as an Independent, held a news conference to suggest potential parliamentarians involved. Surprisingly, most of the media in the country showed little interest, similar to the RCMP’s stance.
Meanwhile, the RCMP has shown a strong interest in a different matter. For years, they have been advocating for mandatory fingerprinting across the federal civil service, not only for top-secret security clearance but also throughout government departments. The House of Commons already requires fingerprinting for staff hired since 2017, with the Senate implementing a similar policy this year. The rationale behind this push is not entirely clear, as name-based background checks are still effective and used by many police departments. The focus on fingerprints raises concerns about biometric privacy and the extent of state surveillance.
These seemingly minor requirements imposed on House of Commons staff reflect the incremental intrusion of the government. Similar tactics were seen with COVID vaccine mandates, where choices were presented as requirements. As digital ID becomes more prevalent, the shift to a fully digital system raises questions about privacy and control. The government’s ability to gradually implement changes that erode privacy and increase surveillance is a growing concern.
Overall, the actions of the RCMP and the government reveal a pattern of controlling individuals while protecting the powerful. The continuous erosion of privacy and the expansion of state surveillance highlight the challenges faced in modern society.
Views expressed in this article are opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times.
