Law Society Requests Canada Customs Stop Illegal Mail Searches

Source: Canada Newwire | April 26, 2001

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Law Society requests Canada Customs stop illegal
mail searches

Newswire | 04-26-01

The Law Society of Alberta is asking the government of Canada to cease its random searches of mail entering Canada from foreign countries, including mail sent by clients to their Canadian lawyers. In some cases, Canada Customs shares the information gathered from these searches with other government agencies.

“The random opening of mail by Canada Customs officials, which includes mail sent by foreign clients to their Canadian lawyers, represents a serious invasion of privacy and a breach of the client’s fundamental right of solicitor/client privilege,” Law Society president Eric Macklin said.

“The Law Society of Alberta is asking the Government to make the legislative changes necessary to ensure the basic and fundamental right of individuals to communicate with their lawyers freely and openly, knowing that their communications are protected by solicitor client privilege.”

Solicitor/client privilege is a client’s fundamental right to have all communications, conversations and letters between the client and his/her lawyer remain private and confidential. This ensures that a person is able to communicate honestly and openly with his/her lawyer with out fear of future disclosure.

The Law Society of Alberta is the self-governing association of all practicing lawyers in Alberta. The Society is financed and maintained solely by Alberta lawyers at no cost to the public or the government. Our mission is to serve the public interest by providing a high standard of legal services and professional conduct through the governance and regulation of an independent legal profession.