RCMP spied on Douglas from the 1930s unitl his death

[Saturn]

RCMP spies shadowed Prairie politician Tommy Douglas for more than three decades, according to documents obtained by the Canadian Press.

A newly declassified file on Douglas shows the Mounties attended his speeches, dissected his published articles and, during one Parliament Hill demonstration, eavesdropped on a private conversation.

The 1,142-page dossier, spanning nine volumes, was obtained by the Canadian Press from Library and Archives Canada under the Access to Information Act.

Portions of several documents in Douglas's file were withheld from release because they concern international security matters still deemed sensitive — or personal information, such as confidential sources or the names of others who came under RCMP scrutiny. Hundreds of pages, though decades old, remain completely sealed.

The file contains articles noting Douglas's concern about rumours of RCMP surveillance of Canadians, though there is no indication the politician suspected he was being watched.

"Setting people to spy on one another is not the way to protect freedom," he wrote while NDP leader.

RCMP security and intelligence officers amassed files on 800,000 Canadians and actively monitored thousands of organizations, from church and women's groups to media outlets and universities.

Who would have thought that the RCMP had enough resources to monitor 800,000 people + thousands of organizations? No wonder that they routinely screw up and the information they hand out is not all that accurate or just plain false. Which is nothing new btw.

In 1984, the newly formed Canadian Security Intelligence Service assumed most of the scandal-plagued RCMP's security duties.

http://www.cbc.ca/canada/story/2006/12/17/douglas-rcmp.html

[margrace]

O come on people how nieve are you, of course the RCMP has dossiers on people who for instance signed petitions that didn't fit in with government approval. Lots of us are in their list and even now the maintain servailance of these posts.

[mikedavid00]

Who would have thought that the RCMP had enough resources to monitor 800,000 people + thousands of organizations? No wonder that they routinely screw up and the information they hand out is not all that accurate or just plain false. Which is nothing new btw.

Yeah the RCMP sucks! Canada sucks!

GO ARAR! ARAR AKBAR! We love you Arar!!!!!

[Saturn]

O come on people how nieve are you, of course the RCMP has dossiers on people who for instance signed petitions that didn't fit in with government approval.

Of course they did, but 800,000 plus thousands of organizations? That adds up to 1+% of the population over the last 50-60 years.

[geoffrey]

I was accepted as a recruit to Depot, decided school was a priority instead and that was a good choice in hindsight. I can't even imagine the stuff they have on me.

[Saturn]

I was accepted as a recruit to Depot, decided school was a priority instead and that was a good choice in hindsight. I can't even imagine the stuff they have on me.

Good choice, indeed. Now you can afford the taxes so that they can get people's lunch choices on record

[geoffrey]

I was accepted as a recruit to Depot, decided school was a priority instead and that was a good choice in hindsight. I can't even imagine the stuff they have on me.

Good choice, indeed. Now you can afford the taxes so that they can get people's lunch choices on record

I'd be very unlikely to ever consider police work unless I had a major problem professionally and found it difficult to find work (unlikely in my area). I get to do all the investigation, make twice the cash and not have to worry about picking up drunks and hookers for my first few years. Why be a cop?

Maybe I'll start sending them my organizer week by week so they can save the money they spend on watching me.

[jbg]

What does this have to do with the RCMP's political espionage?

[Saturn]

I was accepted as a recruit to Depot, decided school was a priority instead and that was a good choice in hindsight. I can't even imagine the stuff they have on me.

Good choice, indeed. Now you can afford the taxes so that they can get people's lunch choices on record

I'd be very unlikely to ever consider police work unless I had a major problem professionally and found it difficult to find work (unlikely in my area). I get to do all the investigation, make twice the cash and not have to worry about picking up drunks and hookers for my first few years. Why be a cop?

Maybe I'll start sending them my organizer week by week so they can save the money they spend on watching me.

Douglas should have done that. It took them 40 years and nine volumes of records to not be even satisfied in the end that he wasn't planning a coup. They closed his file 4 years after he died, just in case he made it back.

[jdobbin]

Lots of us are in their list and even now the maintain servailance of these posts.

Can you imagine that job? They'd have files on us coming out their ears!

[kimmy]

Lots of us are in their list and even now the maintain servailance of these posts.

Can you imagine that job? They'd have files on coming out their ears!

PolyNewbie is totally going to get a body cavity search next time he goes to the airport.

-k

[jdobbin]

PolyNewbie is totally going to get a body cavity search next time he goes to the airport.

-k

What makes you think that he isn't RCMP already?

[margrace]

PolyNewbie is totally going to get a body cavity search next time he goes to the airport.

-k

What makes you think that he isn't RCMP already?

Good question.

[M.Dancer]

I was accepted as a recruit to Depot, decided school was a priority instead and that was a good choice in hindsight. I can't even imagine the stuff they have on me.

A friend of mine was headhunted right out of university. They paid for his post graduate and he started with the RCMP as a plain clothed investigater.

[jdobbin]

Good question.

It wouldn't the first time law enforcement has infiltrated groups to see who should have a file and who should be renditioned off to Syria.

<heh> This conspiracy stuff is fun.

[jdobbin]

A friend of mine was headhunted right out of university. They paid for his post graduate and he started with the RCMP as a plain clothed investigater.

What the RCMP is also in dire need of is forensic accountants and medical experts. Too often the crimes that take place in hospitals and in finance are complicated and too few people people with expertise can investigate in those areas.

[Canadian Blue]

It wouldn't the first time law enforcement has infiltrated groups to see who should have a file and who should be renditioned off to Syria.

<heh> This conspiracy stuff is fun.

http://www.mapleleafweb.com/forums//index.php?showforum=9

Check out all the Lyndon Larouche and 9/11 conspiracies, its a hoot.

I was thinking of applying to the RCMP, actually probably will once I get out of the military, and if I decide I want to do a job more interesting then Social Work.