Series GR-0685 - Commission of Inquiry into Invasion of Privacy, 1966

The Commission on Invasion of Privacy was established by OIC 3292 on November 10, 1966. The Lieutenant-Governor, George R. Pearkes appointed Rey Agler Sargent as the sole Commissioner of this inquiry under the Public Inquiries Act. As commissioner he was to make inquiry into the invasion of privacy, of Lloyd Craig, president of Pulp and Paper Workers of Canada by a rival union, the International Pulp and Sulphite Workers Union, subsequent to Craig's death on November 5, 1966. The Commissioner was also authorized to hold hearings as he deemed appropriate. On November 17th 1966 by OIC 3354, Pursuant to section 8 of the Public Enquiries Act, Hilda Pinder-Moss was appointed as Secretary to the Commission. After 10 days of hearings the proceedings were quashed by a court order from Chief Justice Wilson.

Following the dissolution of the proceedings of the Commission, an application was made on December 30, 1966 on behalf of Angus Mcphee and the Pulp and Paper Workers of Canada. The commission was reconstituted under OIC 1 on January 03, 1967 to inquire into "the nature and extent of the use of recording devices and records thereof for the purpose of invading the privacy of persons or organizations . . . with a view to determining whether any legislative enactment . . . [was] necessary for the preservation of privacy as a civil right." Proceedings were continued and the final report was produced on August 9, 1967.