Fred Derf Veteran Posted February 15, 2007 Veteran Share Posted February 15, 2007 Official astonished by covert surveillance equipment Hidden devices set up in the local arena, municipal building and firehall in small Ontario community KATE HARRIES Special to Globe and Mail Update A controversy over covert video and audio surveillance equipment discovered in public buildings in a rural Ontario municipality has one elected official invoking the Watergate scandal. The hidden cameras of Highlands East, in the Haliburton area, came to light last year at a fire hall. The station's commander had previously been dismissed when he and other volunteer firefighters were caught on tape drinking beer after the municipality had adopted a no-alcohol policy. Highlands East Reeve Dave Burton and deputy reeve Jim Mackie, newly elected last November, are both volunteer firefighters, and criticized the use of surveillance in that matter and assumed it had ceased. Mr. Mackie said he was astonished when a device was discovered in December concealed in a light fixture in the Gooderham firehall. "That was after we had been sworn in," he said in a telephone interview. "The camera was powered up and broadcasting both audio and video, it was set up so anybody within about 300 feet who had that type of receiver could watch in there and listen with impunity." After that discovery, Mr. Mackie said he went looking for other devices and found a hidden camera in the local arena, and another on the wall of the municipal building in Wilberforce. The cameras were set up because of theft and vandalism, said Councillor Suzanne Partridge, who as a member of the previous council favoured installation of the equipment. Ms. Partridge said in an interview she now realizes signs should have been posted to alert members of the public to the surveillance. "We've admitted making a mistake and that won't happen again," she said. Mr. Mackie said he doesn't believe the cameras were intended as a crime deterrent. "That's a bunch of B.S., how you deter theft is you put up some signs and say these premises are subject to video surveillance and then you put your cameras up." Mr. Burton called a special meeting of the five-member council on Dec. 29 that voted to remove any video and audio devices installed by unqualified personnel. "I wanted to deal with it, I wanted to get the place cleaned up," said Mr. Burton, who added that he's still not confident how many devices may be distributed around the municipality and whether they've all been removed. Mr. Mackie said he was surprised by how "insidious" the device found in the fire hall was ? no bigger than a loonie. "You start looking over your shoulder," he said, questioning whether the surveillance was politically motivated. "I liken this to Watergate." Mr. Mackie also expressed concern about a clearly visible camera in the council chamber that he's been told was only in use for the municipal election. Fire Chief Don Sullivan said in an interview that there were only four cameras, which were moved around as required, and all have been removed as ordered by council. He said they were installed in early 2004 to deter theft and vandalism. http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/sto...Technology/home Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lexcyn Posted February 15, 2007 Share Posted February 15, 2007 Holy jeeze. That seems pretty spooky. :wacko: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts