Watching the Watchers

Protest at CSIS offices in Montreal aims to turn tables on spy agency

by Tim McSorley

This morning, about 40 people gathered outside of 715 Peel Street in downtown Montreal. Carrying cameras and many wearing sunglasses and long dark coats, they camped out, waiting for suspects to interrogate.

These weren't police officers though, but rathers supporters of the CSIS Watch campaign, the goal of which is to keep tabs on Canada's spy agency and its actions. CSIS Watch, organized by the People's Commission Network, criticizes the intelligence agency for its tactics of visiting people's homes and workplaces to question them, which the group says amounts to undue harassment. The campaign also demands that the spy agency drop its co-operation with governments or other agencies which are known to use torture and to renounce the use of information gained under torture.

In this clip, you'll hear CSIS Watch and People's Commission organizer Mary Foster speak about today's action, why they crticize CSIS' visit to workplaces, and what's next for the campaign. Also heard is Hadi, who speaks about an unwanted 2009 visit by CSIS agents to his home.

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