Mysterious Toews-focused Twitter feed shuts down

The House Speaker has ordered an investigation into who is using a computer on the Hill to send tawdry tweets about the private life of Public Safety Minister Vic Toews. Richard Madan has more on the hunt for the Twitter tormenter.

CTV National News: No laws or House rules broken

CTV's chief political correspondent Craig Oliver says all of the information about Vic Toews' messy divorce is public knowledge so no laws or House rules have been broken.

Power Play: Twitter account linked to HOC

Carmi Levy, independent technology analyst, and Shawna Newberry, social media strategist, discuss what is appropriate and what is inappropriate when it comes to political parties and their use of social media.

CTV News Channel: The fate of the tweeter

Don Martin, the host of CTV's Power Play says if the individual that released the tweet is caught, who knows what will happen, since there isn't really a crime involved.

Power Play: Twitter protests bill C-30

CTV's Kevin Newman explains the latest twitter trend in Canada. He says the latest trend on twitter #tellviceverything, is the biggest social backlash to any Harper policy.

Question period: Goodale and Toews debate

Liberal MP Ralph Goodale asks if the government will refer the subject matter Bill C-30 to a parliamentary committee for reconsideration.

Watch: See all Videos in the Player

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This screen grab taken Friday, Feb. 17, 2012 shows the Vikileaks Twitter account.

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Craig's Take: Government faces unprecedented challenge with Twitter

CTVNews.ca Staff

Date: Fri. Feb. 17 2012 10:08 PM ET

A Twitter account that released salacious details of Public Safety Minister Vic Toews' divorce has been deleted, after several days of tweets that raised the ire of the government.

The unknown Twitter user, who used the handle Vikileaks30, signed off on Friday evening with a cryptic message.

"You are showing the government that the people have the real power. Farewell," said the tweet.

The account is no longer viewable.

Earlier in the day, Toews called for an investigation into the source of the account, which quickly gained thousands of followers by tweeting out short excerpts from the minister's recent divorce case.

The Twitter account was created earlier this week after the Conservatives introduced legislation requiring Internet service providers to monitor their clients' online activity.

Authorities would then have the ability to access much of that information without requiring a warrant.

The legislation triggered a backlash among civil rights advocates concerned the bill gives police too much power to look into Canadians' private online habits.

Before the account was deleted, another Friday evening tweet stated: "I am shutting down before any other innocent people are targeted. Please keep up the fight against #C30 Canada."

An investigation by the Ottawa Citizen determined the Internet Protocol (IP) address associated with the Vikileaks30 Twitter account came from within the House of Commons.

According to the newspaper's investigation, the IP address has also been used to edit various Wikipedia pages with what appears to be a "pro-NDP" bias.

But whoever was behind the account denied that report.

"I am not in Ottawa. Many people have access to the email address. The Ottawa Citizen in particular is targeting the wrong person," said a tweet.

The New Democrats also said the Twitter account isn't connected to them and they want an apology from the Tories.

A spokesman for Toews said Friday the minister will be sending a letter to Speaker Andrew Scheer requesting a formal investigation.

On Friday in question period, Conservatives took aim at the NDP.

"The Conservatives are accusing the NDP of plotting this attack," said CTV parliamentary correspondent Richard Madan on Friday.

"Throughout question period John Baird, the foreign affairs minister, accused the NDP of engaging in dirty, sleazy tricks using taxpayer money through a House of Commons account."

The NDP has said they are interested in Toews' public life, not his private life, and the party has nothing to do with the account.

New Democrats have said the IP address is public, and the Twitter account could belong to anyone.

Technology analyst Carmi Levy told CTV's Power Play on Friday that tracking the source of a particular Internet activity is "not rocket science."

"One call to the IT department in the House of Commons will make it very easy to find out from which machine all these messages emanated and who was logged in at the time," he said.

"If you're not careful to cover your tracks when you're online, no one needs a warrant to find out where you are."

Every time you log online, be it from a desktop computer, a laptop or a smartphone, you leave footprints, Levy said.

"There's really no such thing as true anonymity online."

The fact that Toews finds himself a victim of the same technology he's trying to open up to more scrutiny is "the ultimate irony," Levy said.

If anything, Toews' Twitter troubles highlight the need "for more thought about what you should and shouldn't share online," social media strategist Shawna Newberry told Power Play.

"Everyone is entitled to their privacy."

Comments are now closed for this story

Growing Pains - Ottawa
said

Watched CTV News tonight and they had a specialist on who said that they will be able to identify the one who did the twitter and will be able to zero in on the system used. Also said that no doubt the Speaker will send on to a Committee to see what will be done in the end. We Canadians do not have to be paying any MP a salary for this. Watching Question Period last week and an MP was sitting in the back row chewing on her nails does she not know that the cameras on running. Anyhow hope they do find out and embarrass this MP was well.

creedo
said

Can't teach an old dog new tricks. Roll over and let the new generation make the decisions.

kat
said

Judging from the comments on this - I fear for society. You people have truly missed the point - you put all your info out there on TWITter and facebook and then complain about invasion of privacy. What a joke! Nothing to hide - nothing to worry about! Putting people's personal info on TWITter without their permission and having the police investigate you because you are some kind of pervert are two ENTIRELY different things. Or is that too hard to understand?

H
said

Isn't this a conflict of interest.He is using his position to invoke a probe into a personal matter that is embarrassing to him , but is not a crime.Talk about an abuse of power , but isn't that what this Gov't has been doing since they managed to get a majority.

ronnie bugera
said

I live in Mr Toews riding and I have 3 words to him TIME TO RETIRE
No confidence in a pot calling the kettle black. Sorry you just don't cut my mustard anymore. But don't worry Stephen will give you a nice post parliament job. Do it early PLEASE!!!!!!

A Koster
said

If anyone posting anywhere online, has nothing to worry about, then use your real name... if not, then you are a hypocrite. If politicians don't want their dirty laundry aired, then don't stand on platforms that promote what they are not doing personally... they too are hypocrites and subsequently open to blackmail. I consider this twitter about Toews a warning to all those in government.. a move that made Harper back up a step or two to reconsider.. I'm sure there's a lot more juicy gossip available from the hill.. better stock up on beer and popcorn.

Sue
said

What's the problem here Vic? Your party didn't have a problem with you dirty ads that called Iggy an American even though Iggy was born in Canada and had work many years abroad. What's the big deal that we know about your divorce?

Greg Orbman
said

The Conservatives are accusing the NDP engaging in dirty, sleazy tricks using taxpayer money through a House of Commons account. In fact the Conservatives are spending millions of taxpayer dollars on government advertisements for the Conservative Economic Action Plan (so called). These advertisements promote the Conservative agenda...pure Conservative propaganda at a cost of millions to Taxpayers. Moreover, the information that Toews wants to get he will be able to get without a warrant if Bill C30 passes. The Conservatives will use the powers of Bill C30 to identifying and monitor activity of people who oppose them. Access without a warrant, Under Bill C30, would not be limited to criminal investigations.

D. Vancouver
said

I'm delighted that Mr Toew's and his Conservative cronies are getting a taste of their own medicine. About time.

Jessica Brown
said

All I have to say is I don't go for snooping into my internet and believe me since I am the victim of sexual abuse and childporn as a child for many years at the hands of a family member I guarantee I would never be for any of those childporn perverts. Mr. Toews I do not appreciate what you are saying about me as that is what I call adding insult over injury and I think you should resign for that statement as now I am wondering if you yourself is a perv and is sounding off so strongly so no one will suspect you. If I am wrong then I appologize but just think how you made me feel when you said anyone against the bill is in support of child porn

J.C.
said

When are some of you people going to realize that even with this bill, the police STILL HAVE TO HAVE A SEARCH WARRANT to access any of your data other than your name & address, phone number and e-mail address. It does not authorize them to read your mail or anything at all like that without a warrant. If you are going to comment on the bill, then at least have the facts before you do.

ky
said

Mr Toews, my guess you are not tried to protect the general public but stop people from having their opinon about you. Mr. minister you must face it let's make no excuses the people who live in democratic society they have the right express their opinion- Support if GOOD; Condem if BAD

JesseY
said

Oh just shut it Vic. If this bill passes, the gov't and police will be able to see this type of stuff every day from private citizens, and much more. So if you feel your privacy has been invaded, think about how the normal hardworking person will feel.

R.B.from Alberta
said

Jamie from Alberta

You are so right....I fully agree with you. Great comment.

Jerry
said

Looks good on him, the minister that wants to spy on everyone doesn't want others to spy on him. The Reform/Conservatives have been using attack adds to belittle and scoff at other leaders over the past several years, I think all their members should be looked at with a fine tooth comb and all their flaws broght forward for everyone to see. If they can dish out dirt then they better get prepared to get it thrown back, it worked for them and got them their majority. Come on people show them how it feels

Trevor H.
said

It's good that they done this to Mr. Toews. See how he likes it. We all might find out just what kind of stuff Mr. toews is up too. I hope he gets more of it. Maybe he'll drop his new snooping bill.

Kitlope
said

Not very nice when someone messes around with your privacy is it Toews?

smirk
said

Won't need a warrant for the probe if the new privacy destroying bill is passed. How ironic!

VancouverDave
said

Now we'll see exactly how far Vic's warrantless search program will really go. He's started the first witch hunt before the bill even gets a proper introduction, much less passage.

Maurice Gravelle
said

It's about time those bastards in parliament get a taste of their own medicine!

Guy Souriant
said

This is not at all like what Toews was planning to do to Canadians. Vikileaks released publicly available information. Toews wants to allow the police to spy on Canadians without a warrant. There is a differnce between releasing public info on a public figure and allowing the police and politicians to access private information.

The only similarity here is that this concerns personal information. Toews now knows how if feels to have people snooping around your private life.

Bucko
said

As long as this individual opens the area under his moustache and makes idiotic statements when his grandoise Bills are criticised he deserves everything he gets.

Marty in P.A.
said

Boy, there are a lot of vindictive people out there!!! I guess if you want perverts and terrorists running amock in Canada - all the more power to you! This is meant to get the criminals - you know the ones that want to stalk your kids - off the streets. If this does turn out to be a personal vendetta, then I hope they catch the person - regardless of what party affiliation they may have. If it were public, then this should not be an issue. If it was not, then that is another issue. Oh, and by the way, if everyone is worried about big brother watching I am surprised that you wrote comments - specifically as you have to supply an email address - wonder how many are real???

Mike from WPG
said

Hmmm, the crap you post on Facebook (and make public anyway) or someone's divorce? Which deserves privacy? Nothing you do online is private anyway, this bill just lets the Government see it too. Get over yourselves, Stephen Harper has better things to do than stalk your Twitter feed.

Jamie from Alberta
said

I cant believe the childish comments... Most of you probably vote for the childish NDP as well. We finally have a goverment trying to take up for the victims and protect the innocent but that is infringing on your rights.. I hope you are never a victim or even worse your children... When that happens tell me how important is it to protect the information... I am not ashamed of what I look at on the internet if you are then maybe the problem isnt with the goverment...

Big Brother
said

Looks good on him...................maybe he will try and think before he plays big brother with the rest of us

Garda
said

With fame politics or any other public figure, being vulnerable is unfortunately a downside that comes with the job which also includes a lot of perks.

He's truly a hypocrite in my opinion.

Steve O
said

Toews is a twit not really anything to investigate, he's not a nice guy so his wife is divorcing him. nothing new to read about a twit on twitter. I just wish these clowns would stop wasting our tax dollars. Most of Towes thinking comes straight from the red communist party. We should know everything there is to know about all the MP's if he doesn't like it quit and make millions happy.

Bob in Chatham
said

Too bad , as my mother used to say " what's good for the goose is good for the gander " ..

Big Bob in Ottawa
said

Well this kind ofd thing is going ot happen more often in the future oyu can be sure. Just a baloon. squeeze one side and the other puffs up. Even if it was an NDP MP or staffer I doubt they'll be able to verify it. I Might prove to be wrong but whomever is responsible certainly is biased but they do make a point. A warrant should be required for the info they seek it's common practice and no police force should be acting on a hunch to go through personal effects online. Judge should decide.

Andrew in Vancouver
said

Vic is ridiculous. How can he not resign or be fired?

Sandra
said

"Someone" once said,"The state has no place in the bedrooms of the nation." Does that only apply to NDP and Liberal bedrooms? Are Conservative bedrooms open to full viewing by the public?

Daryl
said

What goes around comes around eh?

mark from breslau
said

There must be a lot of Canadians happy with their voting choice today. We should be glad we were able to pick a government that clearly puts the interests of all Canadians ahead of their own. As new bills as passed and put into law, we can see that the rights of all Canadians will be respected( some more right than others). Look at how far we have come in such a short time. To think we only have another 3 plus years of this to go. Lucky us.

Danny Dinosaur
said

Karma is a b*tch. If you think this is bad, wait until the lefties get back in power and they can use all the ridiculous laws that Vic created for themselves. That thought alone should make the Cons shutter.

rm
said

Boo Hoo….. lets see what else we can dig up on this yahoo

joke'sonyou
said

Ha, it seems the joke is on you... turns out gov't officials aren't invisible after all, now they can join the rest of us humble folk... where nothing is private online or in any media form...

B.J.
said

It wouldnt surprise me if this was some action from the NDP they are always whining about something, and are very capable of doing such things. Those who seem to be against the minister must be against his new privacy law, you all must have something to hide.

IamME
said

Why should there be a probe in to something that was not illegal? More waste of Canadian tax dollars!!

I.S. Logan
said

lets hope the gutless coward who started this gross invasion of Mr Toews' privacy comes forward before this investigation wastes the time and effort of the Speaker's office.

Iam
said

Get real.... hahahahahahaha!No fun is it Vic?

k markham
said

I don't have a great deal of respect for this man or his politics, but we do have to have some controls over the various sources of social media, but not the kind of invasive for political gain controls the Conservatives are suggesting. It is vitally important that we don't allow the Harper government to erode our freedom, or we will never have the right to fight for freedom in the future.

Captain Canuck
said

"It looks on the surface as though there may be an NDP associated individual behind this appalling invasion of Mr. Toew's private life." How about the appalling invasion of all of our private lives? Do you somehow feel that our government is above the laws they write for the rest of us? Mr. Toews need not lower himself to our level? Unwarranted electronic surveillance need not apply to members of government or just Conservatives in general? FYI, the information was already publicly available most of it on his Wikipedia entry.

Steve in Manotick
said

sounds to me old Vic needs to suck it up. Will he use his bill to punish those who disagree with him. God help Canada as this Government smacks of Germany in the the 1930's. Vic's mustache is an indicator.. I must be careful as they can now trace my identity and throw me in jail.. so much for free speach in Canada!! I guess we now have to start an underground resistance to the government censorship..

B Fast
said

I believe that this campaign is about Mr. Toews' desire to decrease privacy rights, and nothing directly about him being a public figure. I am all for public figures having some level of privacy as well. However, when the government feels a need to know what color toilet paper I use, it seems reasonable that their paper be published on the rooftops. What's good for the goose is good for the gander.

Canadian
said

It is interesting that the minister is willing to call for an inquiry when he is held to account for spending taxpayer dollars and having an affair on his wife. Despite having refused to call for an inquiry when citizens were being terrorized by the police for peaceful protesting and in some cases just walking down the street during the G 20.

Another self serving conservative. Nonetheless, at least he didn't use a military helicopter (at the expense of the taxpayer), like his caucus mate Peter MacKay did a while back, to get to work this morning.

This party is filled with moral weakness and hypocrites.

lolol
said

Cry more Vic, Cry more...

I.H.
said

Although the internet is a virtual environment, it has real-life impacts. Those bullied on the internet feel it in real life, internet supported businesses make real money, and when you get good news over the internet from family and friends, you feel their joy.There is no doubt that just like real society, the internet society is full of crime and also justices, evil as well as good. In real society the police cannot invade your home without first getting a judge’s approval. Why should they be allowed to invade you personal virtual space without a judge’s approval?Julian Assange is being prosecuted for what Vic Towes proposes to do to Canadians. Neither of the two are doing the right thing.

Missing - Ottawa
said

Hopefully Mr. Toews will not just leave it up to the Speaker of the House to investigate..that the RCMP be brought in to investigate. Using "taxpayers" money to do this is just not acceptable..whoever did this be exposed for who they are and charges be laid. Absolutely wrong especially when it isn't just a member of Parliament but his family is also a part of this which is not impressive for an elected official to expose such malicious material and all again at the taxpayers expense.

Arrenbe
said

Let's look at the issue on the government side, plus the new issue that has befallen the NDP. Toews is advocating a policy that he feels is necessary, and it is subject to open criticism from the public and the opposition. I suspect that the process will work its way out, and the government's interest in stripping away protections for real criminals will be upheld but softened by opposition criticism that the procedure is too overreaching. Fair enough, and no hypocracy on either side there, just the back and forth of the political process. On the other hand, we have not just the smearing of Toews by to Twitter campaign (the subtext that criticism of a public official's private life is off limits, but that doesn't apply if the public figure is a Conservative...) but now we have a denial and coverup by the NDP. While their involvement isn't yet proven, if it is, it will show a greater abandonment of principle and worse hypocracy than anything they accuse the government of. Plus, it's a rather neat trick: how on earth can you get embroiled in a coverup scandal when you're just the official opposition?

Sens/Habs Fan - Ottawa
said

Bring in the RCMP to investigate, if the police are able to track down pedophiles then they must be able to track down whoever in the House of Commons posted this malicious spiel when it not only involves Mr. Toews but also his family. Catch and lay a charge.

All aboard the fail train
said

Looks like the Archie Bunker party is caught in a Catch-22. Imagine putting a dinosaur like Toews in charge of a modern, very complex piece of legislation like the cyber-crime bill. Oh boy. Not good.

Alain NB
said

What a hypocrite.

kat
said

Okay - Putting some one's personal info on TWITter is not the same thing as the police having a warrant to look at your internet prowling. If you have nothing to hide what's the big deal anyway. GOY (get over yourself)And really - everyone puts their personal life out there for all to see most of the time anyway.

Hairless - Ottawa
said

Don Martin can say it isn't a crime but this certainly is malicious on whoever is responsible..especially when it doesn't only involve Toews it also involves his family, which just isn't right. If the RCMP can find pedophiles on the net surely they can find whoever in the House of Commons did this. If so then one should be expected to be sued and nothing else.

JD
said

Wow, this character is spinning out of control. Who would have thought the public doesn't want the state spying on them?

observer
said

Now you understand the feeling of violation the rest of us feel at the prospect of having big brother monitoring our online activities. It sucks when your private life is invaded.But it's do as I say, not as I do. Right Vic? Oh, and by the way, if we're against you, it doesn't mean we're child molesters.

Damon
said

No sympathy for Vic, he clearly has no sympathy for anyone else that's he's stepping on. Public court records are fair game, get over it.

boubtingjohn
said

Hey Vic What's wrong?
Are you angry or ashamed?
Suck it up and grow a pair!

reality
said

"private online" is a glaring oxymoron. People need to understand that nothing in the great digital universe is, was or ever will be private.

Jason Daniel Baker, Toronto
said

Though I wish they had found a different way to make their point whomever is behead "Vikileaks" has shown that Toews doesn't have the moral authority to go snooping into people's lives and that in fact no one does. I'd have a bigger problem with Vikileaks if the information wasn't accurate and did not detail the haphazard way Toews has spent taxpayers money. Vic Toews is a family-values crusader politically but a hypocrite privately and while he may have been valuable to the Tories back when they lacked MPs with cabinet experience he no longer is and is fact a liability.

Our rights and freedoms are being taken away!!!
said

Ha ha ha haho hohohooo wheeze, like Vic just got a taste of what he plans for all of us. Now he knows what it feels like. Couldn't happen to a better guy at a better time.

I agree with Greg from Ontario. Suck it up. What goes around comes around, and you just got a wee taste of what you planned for us.

Ya know, the Conservatives aren't well liked by many government workers. I'm guessing that once the cops get this bill passed(if it ever passes), they'll start trying to smear the Conservatives first. I would. I mean the cops will be able to go anywhere, gather anything. If I was Vic, I'd sink this bill deep in the ocean, and never go looking for it. The Conservatives are a fine ripe target.

Everyone breaks the law sometime, just like everyone lies sometime. You think the cops will just go after the big criminals. Well look at what happened here in Ottawa. First a cell phone law to stop people from driving while on their non-hands free phones, and now the cops are telling all of us to get our GPS's and Cell Phones off the window of our cars. So look at this current law, and take it to the extreme. The system needs more money, so the cops just start tapping phones, and listen to your phone calls. Then they pick you up when you go to buy some weed, or a bottle of liquor in Quebec. Can you just see the dollar signs when the cops take this new law to the extreme. They'll catch all of us in time, and we'll pay billions into the system in fines. This isn't about child molesters. It's about money, and personal freedoms.

And you know, I think this new law may actually infringe on our rights as stated in our constitution.

Nope, this new law is a REALLY BAD IDEA, and if Vic gets it passed, I betcha he is numero uno on the list of people to spy on, followed by the PM, and Flaherty. Then they'll start looking at anyone who says anything bad about the Conservative Party, then the NDP, and the Liberals. And hey guys, you won't know you are being investigated, until you are charged.

One thing I learned many years ago. In order for you to have the rights guaranteed in our constitution, you have to be ready fight to give those same rights even to those people, and groups you do not like. Don't do it, and sooner or later you'll be caught in the machinery of the state, and you'll then wish you had those rights.

This is one really stinkin bill, but it'll be kinda fun to watch the Conservatives twist in the wind when they are the first ones caught.

Mel
said

No way!! No using public funds of any sort to look into this mess. You are a public figure, suck it up. If you would like to hire your own PI out of your own pocket - go for it. But do not dare try to use it as any sort of tax write off at the end of the year!!

Joyce
said

Duke: the article states it was the Ottawa Citizen which investigated and traced it, not Minister Toews as you have stated in your comment. You might wish to read the article.

Tim
said

For all the people saying they're willing to give up their privacy "for the children", good for you, go ahead and give it up, but what right do you have to say the rest of us can't maintain ours? I'd rather maintain a semblence of privacy in Canada "for the children". I voted Conservative in the last election and even I have to shake my head and mutter "sheep" as I read some of these comments.

senior taxpayer
said

Why is Baird getting involved in this, I didn't know this was a foreign affair matter, He realy scared everyone to day in question period. I guess the attacks on Stephanne Dion and Micheal Ignatieff were ok because that was conservative politics in the works.

Jean Coutu
said

The Tories are able to dish it out, but by all appearances, they are not able to take it.

As far as the NDP being behind this, this is mere conjecture, totally unsupported by evidence, on the part of a barely computer-literate hack over at the Ottawa citizen.

The IP address that was their source was allegedly linked to is one of two gateway servers providing Internet service to everyone on Parliament Hill.

Those servers, and that IP address are used by everyone, Liberals, Conservatives, NDP and non-political staffers. Let the Parliamentary IT staff investigate all they like -- they'll likely never find the culprit.

rockinron
said

If it is found that a member of the opposition did this and there is no punishment, it will become open warfare on the personal lives of all politicians and their families whereby anything is immediately broadcast onto the internet, taking Canadian politics closer to the gutter.

Joel
said

So mark. You support warrantless surveillance of individuals by the government do you? You seem to be strongly supporting the governments attempts to subvert the rule of law in this country.Guess it was alright by you that the government spied on Tommy Douglas. You know the reason you have universal health care! What you call an unpopular decision is on it's very face an attempt to subvert democracy and the rule of law. I don't think the folks telling Vic to suck it up or got what you deserved are far off base!Another cheap conservative attempt to Americanize Canada.

RobS
said

Mr Toews does not want to get into gutter politics but he is seems quite willing to destroy his own family and push them into the gutter so he can satisfy himself with mistresses and outside-of-marriage children. How unfair is that to his children, who he is not putting ahead of himself, his wife to whom he vowed to stay with for his life and his new children that are being brought up outside the safety and well being of a healthy family. It makes me question whether he is competent to be a minister. I think Mr. Stephen Harper is a great man and that Canada is blessed by having him as our leader. I think he should pick a minister who is a better man than Mr. Toews is.

Deus
said

Make up your mind Vic, are you in favor of Internet privacy or not?

Rick @ Ottawa
said

The only hypocrites here are the lefties. Before the Liberals were defeated they introduce an even more intrusive online bill. Back then your silence was deafening. The loony left certainly is difficult to understand.

paula
said

He want's a probe into this. Go ahead but on your own dime and good luck. Must not be permitted to use OUR money.

KJ in Calgary
said

I am puzzled as to why you Mr. Toews can force a silly intrusion into Canadians privacy yet you believe that you are" Exempt" from the same. Tell me, as a Conservative member of parliament, am I to understand that the laws would not apply to your party's members as well?

Tony in Van
said

I think the only real story here is that Vic is a dirt bag. Don't let him change the channel. Last I checked, tweeting facts about someone is not a crime.

Besides, why do we continue to let old timers dictate the rules of the internet?

antitheist
said

Tracing an IP address is child's play. Anyone can use a tool like
IP TRACING, or IP LOOKUP, duh.

simone
said

I have no problem with the theory of C-30 but it must be properly defined in minute detail as to what rights it allows. Pedophiles must be caught and that is a must.As we all know and is indicated by Mr. Toews privacy has not been a reality for some time.It is rather comical that one of the "Yes let's do this" is the 1st to find out what having people snooping in your life feels like.

Heather
said

There is no comparison between some idiot tweeting private details of someone's life (public figure or not), and a predator hiding behind the anonymity of the Internet to stake out and prey on children. Some of you people need to give your heads a collective shake. If your child was the victim of an Internet stalker, you'd be changing your tune very quickly.

paula
said

Still want that bill passed Mr. Toews. No and why is that?I have no problem i f in fact it is used for what they say it is intended but we ALL know how well that doesn't work and now so do you, KARMA IS A BEAUTIFUL THING.

Steve
said

I'm not sure about everyone else but I heard about this from the media.. what's this Twitter you're all talking about?

Seems the media is just as bad a culprit for spreading this personal info as the person on Twitter. Both should be held equally liable for not censoring the information. Unless, there is no law against posting information?

Justin T
said

If this is how my Canada will become under the NDP/Liberal, then I will do what I can to help Ontario become a nation.

trekkie
said

If one person deserves to have her divorce kept private it is that poor woman who was dragged into the Russell Williams' court case, but the courts said they had to be made public. So then, Toews' divorce papers should also be public. He is after a very public figure in a very public position. She is not a public figure.

I am absolutely not interested in the Williams'divorce case, it should be kept out of the public eye. However Toews case I am interested in, especially if he is an advocate for fidelity in marriage, yet has a mistress. Practice what you preach. And Toews,if you want to invade my privacy, then yours is up for grabs also.

Right as Always
said

House of Commons? I bet it was a page.

more to come...
said

funny how a politician can just "call for" an inquiry, where a normal person would just have to "deal with it". He's already showing how easy it will be for him to misuse the new internet "spy" bill.

James
said

@mark: That defence was debunked at the Nuremberg trials. And yes as a matter of fact I am proud of myself, the people who stood against this Orwellian surveillance bill, and whoever posted Vicky's divorce proceedings to twitter. It's the authoritarian bootlickers who support the Cons drive to revoke our rights that disgust me.

johnny Voter
said

There is absolutely nothing wrong with post public information about his divorce. It was done in the context of bill C-30, and is quite appropriate considering that this bill would allow government agents as selected by the minister to access private information about any Canadian from Internet Service Providers without a warrant.I still remember the conservative adds during the election about Ignatieff's life before politics.The Conservative Party of Canada is full of Hypocrites.

Trev
said

AAAAAAAAAWWWWWWWWWWWw muffin!!!!!!!!! did someone hurt your feelings??? poor widdle baybee... Lucky for us common folk, we have laws protecting our privacy, so you can eat it if you think that things should just magically change to suit your fancy. I guess you can't take the heat, so time to leave the kitchen Toews.

Chris
said

Looks good on ya Vic !!!

KLSW
said

If the Ottawa Citizen was able to obtain the IP address of the person who posted this stuff so easily, WHY do we need bill C-30?? For those who say they have nothing to hide, read the articles online about corruption in north american police departments and government -why make it even easier for potential abuse of the system? Why open up one more avenue of our info to hackers or even stalkers? This isn't just about whether you have something to hide or not. Don't ignore the risks.

big brother
said

Folks need to take a close look at this bill. It allows Vic to send anyone (not restricted to law enforcement) to your ISP for no reason at all (no crime needs to be committed or even suspected) to view (and copy if desired) any information that the ISP has anywhere in their system or connected systems. That's a fishing expedition.So it is plausible that Vic's housekeeper could be asked to vist your local ISP and copy all the emails from those who visited a non-conservative poltical party web site so they can find something to discredit that person on the off chance they say something against the conservative party.

Millicent Wendy
said

Toews and his government are merely "using" child pornography scare tactics as a way of getting the heads up on any protests movements organizing against the government and testing their powers. This is why they're building more prisons because with the economic and financial ruination of the 1% "Made in China" enterprise throughout the globe...the 99% are mad as hell and will be organizing online to group against them. They want to know what you and everyone else will be planning so they can be there in time with the pepper spray, handcuffs, shackles and taser guns.

Duke
said

George Bush.... sorry I meant Vic Toews gave Canadians a choice "Your either with us or with the perverts".
I would like to give Vic Toews my ultimatum "Your either with Democracy or you are with Facism"

mel spears
said

Accusing someone of using public money to post info about him online when according to testimony by his wife taxpayers are paying 10grand a year to feed that hypocrite. Very nice. Hope his constituents are paying attention .

Tony
said

Baaa ha ha. Too hilarious - could not happen to a better person!!!!

rockinron
said

If this happened in the private sector, this person wouldn't have a job for very long.

James
said

@The Con shills tripping over themselves to blame the NDP: Proof please. I'm aware that the NDP scapegoat must make all of you feel warm and fuzzy inside because it conforms to your narrow world view, but people are still innocent until proven guilty. Besides the only thing the person behind this is guilty of is giving publicly available information to the public. That may run afoul of the Con thought police, but it's perfectly legal and if Vic has done nothing wrong he has nothing to worry about, right?

JP
said

You choose to be a public figure Vic, suck it up! Now you know how the rest of us feel about other people poking into our affairs on the internet

Claude
said

Transparent as long as its not applicable to them.. I for one believe ALL Parties should be transparent as possible but people believe that's a Liberal or Left thinking idea.. Funny how it suits the right to push the agenda to win elections and disappears when they have a majority..

mark
said

Love is better than anger? What a joke. It looks on the surface as though there may be an NDP associated individual behind this appalling invasion of Mr. Toew's private life. For those of you saying it's Mr. Toew's just deserts, congratulations - you are just as bad as you claim Mr. Toews is. Proud of yourself? At least Mr. Toews has the defence of being an elected politician trying to do his job for the Canadian people, which often means having to make unpopular decisions.

Tom (Vancouver)
said

Mr. Towes see how it feels to be invaded into your private life! Take the internet bill off the table. I'm sure you will see further attacks on your personal life if this bill continues to go ahead.

IronyIsBliss
said

Just to state for the record, Mr. Toews is a public servant, and his life is an open book. His life is under the watchful eye of the public and should have nothing to hide.However that being said, the medicine that he's dishing out is obviously not meant to be taken. We can see by his actions, and his party's actions, exactly what they have in store for us when this bill goes through. Our European brothers wouldn't stand for this crap and would be starting a revolution and taking to the streets the day that the first word was uttered of it's existence and presented. Why are we so compliant?

mac1
said

there IS NO Irony here - there is a difference bewteen checking for illegal activity and malcious posting on line like this idiot from inside Parliament did - get real people - though this Bill definitely needs some work on it - that is why it has gone to Committee so they can clean it up .. posting personal information by anyone on anyone is not right - period and the person who did this has to be held accountable. This Bil( and what the eventual end product will be post review and amendments)l is not to 'spy' on people but to have the tools to find those who are involved in illegal activity - to compare us with China or George Orwell's 1984 is nonsensical and frankly ignorant scare mongering !

Ryan in AB
said

Not so fun when the shoe is on the other foot with the release on personal (but not private) information. Plus, Toews and the Conservatives have been happy to participate in "gutter politics" when it suits their purpose. But suddenly now it is unacceptable.

Vanc Guy
said

Just another example of the NDP's ideology. Anarchy and godlessness. They must really want the pedophile vote.

Nasty Celt
said

Do as I say, not as I do, right Vic?

Sum
said

Vic Towes Don't you feel that you have been violated. This is how we will feel when you are monitoring our private lives with your law! So eye for an eye!

WhatsamattaU
said

What a hypocrit! I think it's great someone did it to him before he does it to us.Now maybe he'll get real bent out of shape, throw a tantrum, and hold his breath until he turns blue...and beyond.

Andrew
said

I find it odd that some commentators are suggesting that Toews somehow has this "coming" due to the whole ISP/internet disclosure bill. No actual content/substance will be available if that bill passes. There is no equivalency between the info released about Toews on twitter and the information that would be available to the govt if the bill passes.

Jim
said

Hmmmm you can dish it out but you can't take it eh Vic.

Jim in Ontario
said

Ms Turmel has some explaining to do in response to the article in the Ottawa citizen. This really looks bad on the NDP, using a man's personal divorce.

Duke
said

While I will be the first to admit not being an internet guru... still you got ask yourself.... How did he manage to trace the IP address so quickly?
Has good ole Vic already applying his new "Internet Spy Law" before it has passed parliament?

Murray
said

Hey Vic, quit your whining. The guy praises faithful marriages while having a mistress. Too good!

Marc
said

Good luck with that. These people need to realize the internet has become a force of nature, you can't do anything to stop it or change it.

kat
said

Again people rant on about what they do not understand. If you have nothing to hide then excuse me -if the police have a warrant to look at your personal info - what is the problem. There must be a reason. Are people worried about the websites they have been visiting? Everyone seems to think their personal life is of interest to everyone. Who cares! The whole thing about putting your whole life on twitter is inane anyway.

peter in mb
said

What ever you say to a person face to face be it a threat, or slandering someone else verbally or in a written letter or news paper, you are accountable for your actions. I see no reason why people should not be held accountable for how they use the internet. You want to hack into someone privet information, credit cards, steal their ID, or cyber bully them IE slander them online. Then the victim should have the right to go to the police and track you down and have you charged and then sue the pants off you!!! Just like hand guns the internet needs to be controlled. And for all you freedom of speech advocates, you need to read the section of the charter of rights and freedoms that is called �Limitations�.

W
said

You people are all stupid! The irony here is that someone who is against the bill has done the very thing that they are opposed to.I'd be willing to give up some privacy for some peace of mind that organized crime and child pornographers wouldn't be able to hide their activities as well as they can now.What exactly is it that you're all afraid of?

sherry
said

This Government can spend millions of dollars on attack ads (dirty ones) against the likes of Iggy, Dion, and Jack. They call us child porno supporters and terrorist supporters if we don't agree with their heavy handed tactics. They start dismanteling our health care, pensions, with disparaging remarks how the baby boomers have been responsible for this even though it's been proven not true. This is the most disrespectful Government towards the people who they supposedly work for in the history of Canada. They don't even try to hide their arrogance and distain towards Canadians and have let us know they don't care what we think as they have a majority. I should care about constipated looking Vic?

mlatouche
said

I cannot stop laughing!Suck it up baby! You are attempting to do much worst to us, the people.What a crybaby! Who was dumb enough to vote for him?

Paul
said

In my opinion...Vic Towes is a hypocrite.Wants to invade everyones privacy, but gets offended when someone posts public information about him...information that anyone can get legally?Seems that Vic Towes does not understand his own legislation and its ramifications as information that Police do get...its really not kept secret and is shared with others (strictly on the QT of course).When they find the person who posted it...I'd like to shake their hand for giving Vic Towes a taste of his own medicine.Bet all this is an eye opener for you Mr. Towes...but did you learn anything from it?

Helga Laval
said

Mr. Do As I Say...BUT...Not As I Do! How pontificating of him!

Michael
said

Vic shouldn't mind. Someone in government accessed some public information. If you have nothing to hide, you should have nothing to fear. The irony of Vic protesting this is just delicious.

michel
said

For your information Mr. Toews, the House of Commons is not there to lauch your own little private investigation into this matter while at the tax payers costs. If you want to launch an investigation into your own private affairs, do it out your own pocket - hire a detective and don't bother us with your personal information in the House of Commons. Have a little more respect for this institution!

jeannie graham
said

Too bad he doesn't like it!! He thinks it's ok for the govt ... well, someone just decided to turn the tables. Big deal! All that nasty divorce info is public anyway! Not like they caught him on a porn site or anything!!

Vic, yer losin yer grip Boy!!

KC. BC
said

This is petty and juvenile and a bit of a low blow. However, This should be a non issue considering the recent Internet bill. I totally agree Vic....suck it up! We do not need hypocracy.

Tim
said

And yet the irony escapes him...

Franck Commonsens
said

What is the problem, Vic? According to YOU, if you have nothing to hide, their is no problems to be exposed! On the other token, since you desire to spy on eveyone...don"t be surprised that everyone will spy on YOU.

Dan won't vote for you
said

Thank you Mr. Toews for confirming that the postings were factual. Up until now I was only half certain that I could trust that the information was accurate. Wonderful to see that Canadians voted this guy into office and that his party leader promoted him to cabinet. Clearly he is the best of the best. Good call Mr Harper. Congrats to Vickileaks... you have done us a service.

LadyfromPA
said

As has already been said, it is NOT personal information, it is a matter of PUBLIC record and can be accessed using the Freedom of Information Act. The person that did this was obviously trying to make a point and used PUBLIC information to do so. I certainly don't want the government to have access to any of my internet activity without a warrant, and I don't do anything illegal!!

Duke
said

Vic don't need no investigation. He's already accused the NDP. Vic is heap big genius. Him is Minister of Justice? Him Harpo dumbo.

Davis
said

Mr. Toews seems "paranoid".

R J in Edmonton
said

Not all divorce records are public record - that is the whole point. If documents were accessed other than through proper channels then that is a proper matter for investigation no matter what the political stripe of the person involved.

kelsie
said

my irony meter just exploded

Justin
said

Stop calling it 'personal information'Court documents are a matter of public record.All the poster(vikileaks) did was go to a courthouse and ask nicely.But hey, Vic can waste our money with a pointless investigation.

Frank Silva
said

HA! He can dish it out but he can't take it! What's the matter Vic? You're not a child pornographer so what do you have to hide? Or maybe...

Mary Stevenson
said

Vic is the biggest hypocrite. Why is he surprised that public information is being posted? I see no problem with that. His new bill will do more to rob Canadians of their freedoms than that. Maybe he should see what it is like and then decide if he has a conscience at all (which I doubt) and not press on with this bill. Until then, I hope this goes truly viral. He deserves every bit of it, the dirty old man.

Carl
said

What a crock the opposition is spewing. The bill introduced by Toews would NOT allow access to private info without a warrant. Unless you consider your name and IP address to be private. Police know who lives in any given house, who has any given phone number, etc. In the 21st century, they should also know who has any given IP address. That way they can apply to a judge for a warrant if and when they need to look into online crimes. Makes perfect sense. The internet is a public place where people interact, and sometimes commit crimes. The police have to have the same abilities online that they have in the "real" world.

J.C.
said

How many people would seek out the court records on Mr. Teows divorce?? Very few if any. It was wrong to put the information on twitter for the world to see. If this is what any parliamentary party member did, I would go after them too. His personal life has nothing to do with him tabling a bill in the house of commons. This was a revengeful act and nothing more. If people want to protest or argue against the bill then good but should not use his personal life as a weapon against him or anyone else for that matter, unless it was something either illegal or where security of the country was involved etc., but certainly not for tabling a bill they are against. That is beyond dirty politics.

Mike Beard
said

It looks like what's good for the goose isn't so good for the gander. Get used to it Vic, this is what you want.

Vikileaks
said

The best way to get an investigation done to find out so you can find out who was behind this(using taxpayers dollars) - blame the opposition.Is there any money left from the G8 funding? Perhaps we can use some of that to fund the investigation.

Pete
said

Many people commenting here need to read the bill as they are grossly mis-informed. It does not allow the government to access any information without a warrant that you wouldnt have to give up at an traffic stop. Name and address, thats it, and that still requirs a specific police request to the ISP. Any further info such as transmissions etc. still require a warrant. You can also bet the police will not be tweeting any of this info.

Mark in Newmarket
said

Well Mr. Toews its really nothing new, if someone wants your divorce records bad enough and want to go through the hurdles to get them, they can be attained. Just like any company who wants to hire me can easily access any personal information about me, as do banks, businesses, credit card companies etc. So, you sir being in the position you are, holding a high profile Ministerial job for the government of Canada are not exempt. In this world today, you can gather information on almost everyone.

Alan
said

Hmmmm.... Guess privacy really does matter...

Debbie
said

If Vic doesn't have anything to hide then he shouldn't be at all upset by this. If he isn't willing to make all his personal life public then he must be on the side of child pornographers, right. I think that was his skewed logic, wasn't it?

Norma
said

Hate to think what else might come out that you just want to keep between you and the 'sitter, nanny, mistress, etc., Vic.

Good Canadian
said

I think it's important that the Canadian Public know more about the Minister in charge of PUBLIC SAFETY!Personally I would expect the person in charge of MY safety to be of the utmost moral character!

Robin
said

LOL!Suck it up Vicki!

Guelph Observer
said

I sympathize with Mr. Toews that his personal information was made public. That should never happen. But it sure looks like the pot calling the kettle black when the neocons cry foul at a 'sleazy tricks campaign' perpetrated by others. Have they forgotten about their own sleazy attack ads?!

Shakirally
said

Another example of Conservative double standards and hypocracy

jannana98
said

Seriously! What a hypocrite. He doesn't want people knowing his personal information but it�s okay to have all Canadian citizens personal information accessed on the internet - exposed to, read by and copied on a whim without a warrant by government surveillance officials (not just police � it could be your neighbor if they are appointed) in his proposed Bill C-30.

Debbie
said

What a hypocrite he is! I suppose privacy is only for the 1% and not for the 99%.

Gloria Devers
said

If Toews is so innocent what is he worried about? Is he hiding something?

Linda Keller
said

Oh so now that the shoe is on the other foot and Mr. Toew's private affairs are up for scrutiny then his rules change to suit him?

Ron in Niagaraa
said

It's called the Freedom of Information Act for those who wonder . Besides, Mr. Toewws what's good for the goose is good for the gander . If the government can access our personal information without a warrant , then the same thing applies to the government .

Angela
said

What is Vic Toews so affronted about? Details of his divorce, including the why behind it were published in newspapers, on his wikipedia page, etc. so it wasn't exactly like it was private information. The only difference here is that his information was taken from one source and displayed on another source. Anyone who was interested could have done a little googling and found out the same information. Asking for an inquiry and pointing fingers at the NDP is just hypocrisy. Mr. Toews should not be surprised that his proposed bill could be used against him in the same way that it could be used against any other Canadian. What's sauce for the goose is sauce for the gander.

Jack
said

It is of course wrong, but this guy is so obnoxious it is at least understandable.

mike
said

If it was a public divorce case, it would be in the public record. It's not hard to find published cases.....probe done - and at a huge savings to the taxpayer.

Jeremy
said

You're a public official. Grow some skin and stop whining. I honestly am unable to type how disgusted I am of your behavior with the introduction of this bill. Attacking reporters for claiming they are distorting the truth about your comments when they are a matter of public record. I have seen the video, along with the rest of my fellow Canadians, and you should recant these comments immediately, pull back on this bill, and maybe the heat will cool off a bit. I just love how your own party is piling on top. Just love it.

Joe Mc
said

There we go, abuse of power already. He will call the ISP and have the names/IP addresses of the people that made him look like a fool. Have fun people, next minister you write something nasty about, will do the same!!!!

sweet_irony
said

the minister that wants to spy on everyone doesn't want others to spy on him? how ironic!

steve
said

suck it up vicky, you opened the can of worms. i know you fell you are above us peasants but you are not.

rouquinne
said

But it ISN'T *personal* information at all. These are public divorce records. Anyone can look in to them.

Little Sister
said

Funny! Maybe the ex-wife did it to make a point.

Once documents are filed in court, aren't they a matter of public record?

Greg from Ontario
said

Suck it up Vic! If your bill goes through, I'm willing to be you'll only be the first of many who are wondering how their personal information got on the Internet because of this issue. The only difference being that our calls for investigation would most likely fall on deaf ears.

kat
said

This is what is wrong with "social media". It's not called TWITter for nothing. If you don't have anything to hide it shouldn't be a problem. Or will it infringe on the entitled?

MacK
said

I'd be upset if someone violated my privacy too...

Terry
said

I agree with Vic. The attack was malicious and abusive. All the more reason to pass the cybercrime bill.

Mark in Wpg
said

So Vic doesn't like that some anonymous persons were able to access his personal information with zero oversight or a warrant and then use it for their own purposes? By his own hair-brained argument he must be a pedophile with something to hide! How old was that baby sitter again?

Kelly Willis
said

What is Vic Toews worried about if he has nothing to hide? Is he guilty of something since he seems to be squawking like a duck?

raj
said

Well my guess is its from the NDP and I can imagine they are really going to lay low This wanst funny, whoever thought it was is being petty and juvenile, come to think of itWhere's Justin Trudeau these days

K from NS
said

If only Bill C-30 were already passed, there'd be no need to call for a probe they'd already have all the necessary information.

Diana 3
said

So it's okay for Mr. Toews to stick his nose in Canadian's business but nobody to look into his? Sounds like he has some skeletons in his closet yet wants to play judge and jury with any Canadian he decides to target. Hypocrite!

Goldens
said

Don't blame him one bit. If it were me I would want to know how personal information was posted on twitter without permission.

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It is about time - as a grandparent I have watched our kids (who were allowed to fail although I do remember some nagging on our part) learn, I have watched our children now micro-manage their children. A big part of it is the fact that there are predators out there and an extreme reluctance on the parents part to alllow freedom that might result in the children becoming victims.

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