Reply #2: Some points to consider...

[shockedcanadian]

Sarah what is at the crust of the argument here is that Mr. Douglas has passed on some time ago. In fact, some of the files which CSIS is trying to maintain closed to its citizens are 80 years old. The request for his file came from a fairly well known reporter in Canada and, to some degree by the daughter of Mr. Douglas. The reporter was sent a small file massively redacted, hence the action put forward to the courts to have his file released in full. This is an organization which is supposed to spy on bad guys, the enemy...not popular politicians.

What is more disturbing is that not only do these agencies operate with extreme, almost Stalinist secrecy, but, when the courts were deciding on the issue, miraculously dozens of the files went missing. I cannot think of another nation which allows such draconian protection of state secrets...for this matter I cannot think of any democracy that holds their intelligence agency to such limited accountability. Finally there is a judge who understands what is at stake.

The powers of CSIS and the RCMP are so immense, that I honestly would not be surprised if they refused the orders of the Supreme Court of Canada. It is frightening.