* . *
  • About
  • Advertise
  • Privacy & Policy
  • Contact
Monday, June 30, 2025
Earth-News
  • Home
  • Business
  • Entertainment
    A Secret Society, Ritualistic Killings, and a Century-Old Curse Netflix and YRF Entertainment’s ‘Mandala Murders’ Premieres July 25 – About Netflix

    A Secret Society, Ritualistic Killings, and a Century-Old Curse: Dive into the Chilling World of ‘Mandala Murders’ Premiering July 25

    Susquehanna Raises Penn Entertainment Inc. (PENN) Price Target. – Yahoo Finance

    Susquehanna Raises Price Target for Penn Entertainment Inc. (PENN)

    George Lopez is coming to Spokane – KXLY.com

    George Lopez is coming to Spokane – KXLY.com

    Netflix unveils Dallas immersive venue for fans of hit shows like ‘Squid Game,’ ‘Stranger Things’ – Houston Chronicle

    Step Inside Netflix’s New Dallas Immersive Experience Featuring Hits Like ‘Squid Game’ and ‘Stranger Things

    ‘Puttin’ on the Ritz’: Civic Players bring ‘Young Frankenstein’ to life – Yahoo

    Civic Players Deliver a Hilarious and Unforgettable Performance of ‘Young Frankenstein

    ‘Wheel of Fortune’: Amputee Wins $60,000 After Breaking Incredible ‘Curse’ – Hastings Tribune

    Wheel of Fortune’ Amputee Breaks Incredible ‘Curse’ to Win $60,000!

  • General
  • Health
  • News

    Cracking the Code: Why China’s Economic Challenges Aren’t Shaking Markets, Unlike America’s” – Bloomberg

    Trump’s Narrow Window to Spread the Truth About Harris

    Trump’s Narrow Window to Spread the Truth About Harris

    Israel-Gaza war live updates: Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh assassinated in Iran, group says

    Israel-Gaza war live updates: Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh assassinated in Iran, group says

    PAP Boss to Niger Delta Youths, Stay Away from the Protest

    PAP Boss to Niger Delta Youths, Stay Away from the Protest

    Court Restricts Protests In Lagos To Freedom, Peace Park

    Court Restricts Protests In Lagos To Freedom, Peace Park

    Fans React to Jazz Jennings’ Inspiring Weight Loss Journey

    Fans React to Jazz Jennings’ Inspiring Weight Loss Journey

    Trending Tags

    • Trump Inauguration
    • United Stated
    • White House
    • Market Stories
    • Election Results
  • Science
  • Sports
  • Technology
    New center coming to Mizzou will focus on energy research and technology – Columbia Missourian

    Mizzou Launches Innovative New Center Dedicated to Energy Research and Technology

    Mirrors in space and underwater curtains: can technology buy us enough time to save the Arctic ice caps? – The Guardian

    Can Technology Like Space Mirrors and Underwater Curtains Buy Us Time to Save the Arctic Ice Caps?

    Naples restaurant owner prepares for hurricane season with new flood technology – Fox4Now.com

    Naples restaurant owner prepares for hurricane season with new flood technology – Fox4Now.com

    Emerging Memory and Storage Technology Market Analysis Report 2025-2034 | AI and HPC Boom Fuels Surging Demand for Fast, Low-Power Memory Devices – Yahoo Finance

    How AI and HPC Are Driving Explosive Growth in Fast, Low-Power Memory Technologies Through 2034

    Ostin Technology (OST): Volatility’s Warning or Contrarian Opportunity? – AInvest

    Ostin Technology (OST): Navigating Market Volatility – Red Flag or Hidden Opportunity?

    St. Francis Medical Center brings advanced robotic surgery technology to Northeast Louisiana – KNOE

    St. Francis Medical Center brings advanced robotic surgery technology to Northeast Louisiana – KNOE

    Trending Tags

    • Nintendo Switch
    • CES 2017
    • Playstation 4 Pro
    • Mark Zuckerberg
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Business
  • Entertainment
    A Secret Society, Ritualistic Killings, and a Century-Old Curse Netflix and YRF Entertainment’s ‘Mandala Murders’ Premieres July 25 – About Netflix

    A Secret Society, Ritualistic Killings, and a Century-Old Curse: Dive into the Chilling World of ‘Mandala Murders’ Premiering July 25

    Susquehanna Raises Penn Entertainment Inc. (PENN) Price Target. – Yahoo Finance

    Susquehanna Raises Price Target for Penn Entertainment Inc. (PENN)

    George Lopez is coming to Spokane – KXLY.com

    George Lopez is coming to Spokane – KXLY.com

    Netflix unveils Dallas immersive venue for fans of hit shows like ‘Squid Game,’ ‘Stranger Things’ – Houston Chronicle

    Step Inside Netflix’s New Dallas Immersive Experience Featuring Hits Like ‘Squid Game’ and ‘Stranger Things

    ‘Puttin’ on the Ritz’: Civic Players bring ‘Young Frankenstein’ to life – Yahoo

    Civic Players Deliver a Hilarious and Unforgettable Performance of ‘Young Frankenstein

    ‘Wheel of Fortune’: Amputee Wins $60,000 After Breaking Incredible ‘Curse’ – Hastings Tribune

    Wheel of Fortune’ Amputee Breaks Incredible ‘Curse’ to Win $60,000!

  • General
  • Health
  • News

    Cracking the Code: Why China’s Economic Challenges Aren’t Shaking Markets, Unlike America’s” – Bloomberg

    Trump’s Narrow Window to Spread the Truth About Harris

    Trump’s Narrow Window to Spread the Truth About Harris

    Israel-Gaza war live updates: Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh assassinated in Iran, group says

    Israel-Gaza war live updates: Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh assassinated in Iran, group says

    PAP Boss to Niger Delta Youths, Stay Away from the Protest

    PAP Boss to Niger Delta Youths, Stay Away from the Protest

    Court Restricts Protests In Lagos To Freedom, Peace Park

    Court Restricts Protests In Lagos To Freedom, Peace Park

    Fans React to Jazz Jennings’ Inspiring Weight Loss Journey

    Fans React to Jazz Jennings’ Inspiring Weight Loss Journey

    Trending Tags

    • Trump Inauguration
    • United Stated
    • White House
    • Market Stories
    • Election Results
  • Science
  • Sports
  • Technology
    New center coming to Mizzou will focus on energy research and technology – Columbia Missourian

    Mizzou Launches Innovative New Center Dedicated to Energy Research and Technology

    Mirrors in space and underwater curtains: can technology buy us enough time to save the Arctic ice caps? – The Guardian

    Can Technology Like Space Mirrors and Underwater Curtains Buy Us Time to Save the Arctic Ice Caps?

    Naples restaurant owner prepares for hurricane season with new flood technology – Fox4Now.com

    Naples restaurant owner prepares for hurricane season with new flood technology – Fox4Now.com

    Emerging Memory and Storage Technology Market Analysis Report 2025-2034 | AI and HPC Boom Fuels Surging Demand for Fast, Low-Power Memory Devices – Yahoo Finance

    How AI and HPC Are Driving Explosive Growth in Fast, Low-Power Memory Technologies Through 2034

    Ostin Technology (OST): Volatility’s Warning or Contrarian Opportunity? – AInvest

    Ostin Technology (OST): Navigating Market Volatility – Red Flag or Hidden Opportunity?

    St. Francis Medical Center brings advanced robotic surgery technology to Northeast Louisiana – KNOE

    St. Francis Medical Center brings advanced robotic surgery technology to Northeast Louisiana – KNOE

    Trending Tags

    • Nintendo Switch
    • CES 2017
    • Playstation 4 Pro
    • Mark Zuckerberg
No Result
View All Result
Earth-News
No Result
View All Result
Home News

Cameron Ortis is accused of violating the Security of Information Act — what is that?

October 3, 2023
in News
Cameron Ortis is accused of violating the Security of Information Act — what is that?
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

The trial for Cameron Ortis, the former director general of RCMP intelligence charged with leaking top-secret information, is set to get underway this morning.

The 51-year-old faces four counts under the Security of Information Act (SOIA), legislation reserved for some of Canada’s most delicate national security matters: espionage, terrorism and insider threats.

His trial pushes the decades-old law into the spotlight.

SOIA meant to safeguard state secrets 

The Security of Information Act was born out of Canada’s response to the 9/11 terrorist attacks and was adopted by Parliament on Christmas Eve of 2001. It amended and renamed what had for years been known as the Official Secrets Act.

“The Security of Information Act is designed to criminalize essentially leaking or selling or sharing information that is classified,” said Leah West, who practises national security law and teaches at Carleton University’s Norman Paterson School of International Affairs.

“It is the stick, if you will, to keep people from unlawful or unauthorized sharing, leaking, selling, etc.”

The act makes it an offence to share safeguarded information or “special operational information” with a foreign entity or a terrorist group.

It also makes certain people “permanently bound to secrecy,” according to the wording of the law.

Some government employees are automatically covered by the act. They include employees at the Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS), the Communications Security Establishment (CSE) and certain departments of the RCMP, and those working in military intelligence.

Others can be bound to secrecy under the act if their jobs deal with special operational information or if a deputy head of a federal government department believes doing so is in the interest of national security.

Cameron Ortis, a senior intelligence official at the RCMP, walks into his lawyer's office building in Ottawa after being granted bail, Tuesday, Oct. 22, 2019. Ortis is accused on charges of violating the Security of Information Act and breach of trust for allegedly disclosing secrets to an unknown recipient.

Cameron Ortis, a senior intelligence official at the RCMP, walks into his lawyer’s office building in Ottawa after being granted bail on Oct. 22, 2019. Ortis is accused of violating the Security of Information Act for allegedly disclosing secrets to an unknown recipient. (Justin Tang/Canadian Press)

The penalties for breaking the law are severe. Ortis faces up to 14 years in prison. Other offences under the act can lead to life sentences.

Andrew House, who co-leads the national security group at Fasken Law, said those who fall under the act make up a relatively small circle in government.

Canada is known as a “net importer of intelligence,” he said — meaning those covered by the act may not be looking only at Canadian intelligence.

“Sometimes the information collected is not collected by Canadian officials, but it’s collected abroad and shared with Canada,” he said.

“This is pretty exotic stuff.”

Convictions are rare 

Charges under the act are rare. Trials and convictions are rarer still.

To date, there has been only one conviction under the act. In 2012, Jeffrey Delisle, a Canadian naval officer, pleaded guilty to violating the act and was sentenced to 20 years in prison. Delisle sold secret material to Russia in exchange for upward of $110,000 over more than four years.

He told an RCMP interrogator that he was “so dead inside” after his wife cheated on him.

Sub-Lt. Jeffrey Paul Delisle arrives at Nova Scotia provincial court for a sentencing hearing in Halifax on Friday, Feb. 1, 2013. Delisle, convicted of selling military secrets to Russia, becomes the first person to be sentenced under Canada's Security of Information Act.

Sub-Lt. Jeffrey Paul Delisle arrives at Nova Scotia provincial court for a sentencing hearing in Halifax on Friday, Feb. 1, 2013. (Andrew Vaughan/The Canadian Press)

House was serving as the chief of staff to the minister of public safety at the time. 

“You have a certain horror at what has happened, but also a relief and a sense of pride that there are systems in place, including with our Five Eyes allies, to catch people like this,” he said.

The Five Eyes is an intelligence sharing network made up of the U.S., the U.K., Canada, Australia and New Zealand. 

While there have been other charges under the act, Ortis’s trial will mark the first time SOIA charges are tested in court.

More than eight years ago, Qing Quentin Huang, who worked for a subcontractor to Irving Shipbuilding Inc., was accused of offering secrets to China. A judge stayed the proceedings in 2021. 

A man in a dark suit and tie poses for a profile picture.

Retired RCMP office Bill Majcher’s photo from his LinkedIn profile. Majcher has been charged with two counts under the Security of Information Act. (William Majcher/LinkedIn)

Two SOIA cases are working their way through the court system.

This summer, police charged retired RCMP employee William Majcher with two counts under the act. He has been granted bail and has not formally entered a plea.

An RCMP news release alleges Majcher “used his knowledge and his extensive network of contacts in Canada to obtain intelligence or services to benefit the People’s Republic of China.”

Ortis trial is a ‘test case’

The law also makes it an offence to steal or destroy a trade secret to the detriment of Canada’s economic interests for the benefit of, or in association with, a foreign economic entity.

That provision was used for the first time last year when the RCMP charged Yuesheng Wang with economic espionage. The former Hydro-Québec researcher is accused of obtaining trade secrets for the benefit of China.

“I think we may see this offence used more frequently, given [the] threats to our economic security on which the government is now focused with quite a degree of precision,” said House.

“It’s great that it is in the arsenal of the Crown prosecutors.”

West said Ortis’s trial will be “a test case to see if our current legislative framework around the protection of evidence, and the protection of open court and what discretion that judge has — if it can all actually work in a trial for espionage.

“What do you do with a jury who accidentally hear confidential information? Just ask them really nicely to not share it? It’s all interesting.”

West said she will be watching to see how the judge “is going to thread the needle between” protecting the open court principle and shielding state secrets.

“This is a complicated task,” she said.

SOIA and foreign interference leaks

The Security of Information Act has also been raised in relation to the unnamed security official who leaked sensitive information to the media about attempts by China’s government to interfere in Canadian politics.

Starting in late 2022, a series of articles appearing in Global News and the Globe and Mail described alleged Chinese foreign interference in Canadian elections. In some cases, the reports were based on leaked top-secret intelligence. The Globe and Mail eventually published a piece written by a national security source who provided information to the paper.

Jody Thomas, the prime minister’s national security and intelligence adviser, said she expects the leaker will be caught and punished.

“The law has been broken. Sources, techniques have been put at risk. Our credibility with Five Eyes allies has been put at risk,” she said earlier this year.

Jody Thomas, National Security and Intelligence Advisor waits to appear as a witness before the Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs (PROC) investigating intimidation campaigns against the Member for Wellington - Halton Hills and other Members on Parliament Hill in Ottawa, on Thursday, June 1, 2023.

Jody Thomas, the prime minister’s national security and intelligence adviser, says the unnamed official who leaked information to the media should be found and prosecuted. (Spencer Colby/The Canadian Press)

In an open letter in the Globe and Mail, the unidentified leaker defended their actions, saying the federal government was not heeding calls to act on allegations of foreign interference.

Controversy

Parts of the act were deemed unconstitutional in 2006 by the Ontario Superior Court after Mounties raided a reporter’s home.

In 2004, the RCMP combed through Ottawa Citizen reporter Juliet O’Neill’s home and office in an attempt to find the source of her information about the Maher Arar affair after O’Neill ran a story offering details of what Arar allegedly told his Syrian captors. The story cited a “security source” and a leaked document.

Arar, a Canadian-Syrian telecommunications engineer who had been living in Ottawa, was detained at a New York airport in 2002. He spent months behind bars in Damascus after being deported to his Syrian birthplace by U.S. authorities.

Ottawa Citizen newspaper lawyer Wendy Montgomery holds up a search warrant as Citizen reporter Juliet O'Neill (right) looks on in front of O'Neill's house in Ottawa, Wednesday, Jan.21, 2004. RCMP officers searched the home and office of O'Neill Wednesday seeking the source of an alleged information leak in the case of Maher Arar.

In this 2004 file photo, the Ottawa Citizen’s lawyer Wendy Montgomery holds up a search warrant as Citizen reporter Juliet O’Neill (right) looks on in front of O’Neill’s house in Ottawa. RCMP officers searched O’Neill’s home and office seeking the source of an alleged information leak related to the case of Maher Arar. (Simon Hayter/Canadian Press)

O’Neill’s legal team argued the Security of Information Act provisions used to obtain the RCMP search warrants violated the Charter of Rights and Freedoms.

In her decision, Justice Lynn Ratushny struck down Section 4 of the Security of Information Act as “unconstitutionally vague” and an infringement of freedom of expression.

The Conservative government of the day did not challenge Ratushny’s ruling.

House said the Ortis trial could raise questions about whether the act needs to be updated.

“People are increasingly interested in the use of the act,” he said. “I think this is an act that we as a country are getting to know.”

>>> Read full article>>>
Copyright for syndicated content belongs to the linked Source : CBC News – https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/security-of-inforamtion-act-1.6981517?cmp=rss

Tags: CameronnewsOrtis
Previous Post

Indian police launch ‘shocking’ raids on journalists, activists prompting ‘deep concern’ over media freedom

Next Post

More adults are taking medication for ADHD. Physicians say trend is a double-edged sword

Aceso Life Science Group Enhances Governance with New Nomination Committee Appointment – TipRanks

Aceso Life Science Group Boosts Leadership with Exciting New Nomination Committee Appointment

June 30, 2025
Aceso Life Science Group Updates Board Composition and Roles – TipRanks

Aceso Life Science Group Updates Board Composition and Roles – TipRanks

June 30, 2025
59 Years Ago Today… – Corvette: Sales, News & Lifestyle – CorvetteBlogger

59 Years Ago Today… – Corvette: Sales, News & Lifestyle – CorvetteBlogger

June 30, 2025
Botafogo sack manager Paiva after Club World Cup exit – Reuters

Botafogo sack manager Paiva after Club World Cup exit – Reuters

June 30, 2025
Deep inside U.S. economy, more sticker prices start going up due to tariffs, and inventory is headed down – CNBC

Soaring Tariffs Drive U.S. Prices Up Amid Shrinking Inventory Levels

June 30, 2025
A Secret Society, Ritualistic Killings, and a Century-Old Curse Netflix and YRF Entertainment’s ‘Mandala Murders’ Premieres July 25 – About Netflix

A Secret Society, Ritualistic Killings, and a Century-Old Curse: Dive into the Chilling World of ‘Mandala Murders’ Premiering July 25

June 30, 2025
Immune Health Supplements Market Size to Reach USD 56.23 – GlobeNewswire

Immune Health Supplements Market Size to Reach USD 56.23 – GlobeNewswire

June 30, 2025
‘I don’t believe in losing’: GOP lawmaker responds to concerns about passing bill | CNN Politics – CNN

‘I don’t believe in losing’: GOP lawmaker responds to concerns about passing bill | CNN Politics – CNN

June 30, 2025
New center coming to Mizzou will focus on energy research and technology – Columbia Missourian

Mizzou Launches Innovative New Center Dedicated to Energy Research and Technology

June 30, 2025
Atlanta Dream Dealt Concerning Loss During Liberty Game – Yahoo Sports

Atlanta Dream Faces Crushing Defeat in Thrilling Liberty Clash

June 30, 2025

Categories

Archives

June 2025
MTWTFSS
 1
2345678
9101112131415
16171819202122
23242526272829
30 
« May    
Earth-News.info

The Earth News is an independent English-language daily published Website from all around the World News

Browse by Category

  • Business (20,132)
  • Ecology (700)
  • Economy (725)
  • Entertainment (21,614)
  • General (15,638)
  • Health (9,764)
  • Lifestyle (730)
  • News (22,149)
  • People (725)
  • Politics (731)
  • Science (15,942)
  • Sports (21,221)
  • Technology (15,709)
  • World (705)

Recent News

Aceso Life Science Group Enhances Governance with New Nomination Committee Appointment – TipRanks

Aceso Life Science Group Boosts Leadership with Exciting New Nomination Committee Appointment

June 30, 2025
Aceso Life Science Group Updates Board Composition and Roles – TipRanks

Aceso Life Science Group Updates Board Composition and Roles – TipRanks

June 30, 2025
  • About
  • Advertise
  • Privacy & Policy
  • Contact

© 2023 earth-news.info

No Result
View All Result

© 2023 earth-news.info

No Result
View All Result

© 2023 earth-news.info

Go to mobile version