Bill C-51, An Act
to amend the Criminal Code, the Competition Act and the Mutual
Legal Assistance in Criminal Matters Act (short title:
Investigative Powers for the 21st Century Act) was re-introduced in
the House of Commons on November 1st, 2010. As the short title of
Bill C-51 implies, the bill aims to
extend the current investigative powers of national law enforcement
and security agencies for computer-related crimes to take into
account the use of new communications technologies. While many of
the proposed changes relate to the Criminal
Code, they have an impact on the Competition
Act and the investigative powers of the
Commissioner of Competition.
Two other bills, Bill C-50, An Act
to amend the Criminal Code (interception of private communications
and related warrants and orders) and Bill C-52, An Act
regulating telecommunications facilities to support
investigations, were also introduced in October and November
of last year. These three complimentary bills
