RCMP Commissioner Brenda Lucki refused to say whether federal police used spyware to monitor MPs’ smartphones. The chair of the Commons ethics committee yesterday described the secrecy as “troubling.”.“A committee of Parliament has unfettered powers to request documents,” said Conservative MP Pat Kelly (Calgary Rocky Ridge), chair of the committee. “Just a blanket refusal to a committee is troubling.”.“I will say on behalf of the committee that voted for some very specific information from the RCMP it was quite disappointing, in fact troubling, to receive in Commissioner Lucki’s letter what amounts to just point blank refusal.”.According to Blacklock's Reporter, the committee on July 26 passed a motion that asked in part for “a list of warrants or any other information related to the wiretapping of Members of Parliament, parliamentary assistants, or any other employee of the Parliament of Canada.”.Lucki in an August 4 letter to the committee disclosed yesterday said no records will be released. “This information will not be provided by the RCMP,” wrote Lucki. “Any RCMP investigation involving elected officials or employees of the Parliament of Canada would follow the same process and procedures as any other subject of an investigation.”.The RCMP said since 2012, it has used spyware able to activate individuals’ smartphone cameras and microphones. Police since 2017 successfully applied for 32 court warrants to use the technology..Members of the ethics committee pressed for information on whether public office holders were put under surveillance. Public Safety Minister Marco Mendicino would not answer specifically if MPs or political aides were targeted with spyware..“Have you been briefed on the RCMP’s use of the remote activation of microphones and cameras on our mobile devices?” asked Conservative MP James Bezan (Selkirk-Interlake, Man.). “I have had discussions with the RCMP and my officials,” replied Mendicino..Mark Flynn, assistant RCMP commissioner responsible for national security, said the RCMP never consulted the federal Commissioner of Privacy to determine if use of spyware complied with the Privacy Act. “Did you, yes or no, consult the Privacy Commissioner?” asked Bloc Québécois MP René Villemure (Trois-Rivière, Que.). “No,” replied Flynn..“We asked whether parliamentarians had been monitored and the reply we received was the RCMP cannot offer that information,” asked Villemure. “Do you have anything to add to that?”.“When we’re speaking about any individual in particular, to ask a question about parliamentarians specifically, it’s a challenging question,” replied Flynn..“Have political parties ever been under surveillance?” asked Villemure. “The RCMP does not target political parties,” replied Flynn.
