Conservative MP Michael Cooper is accusing the Liberal government of trying to silence the Privacy Commissioner by shutting down his motion calling for the commissioner to testify about a controversial piece of legislation on surveillance and personal data collection.
Cooper says the Privacy Commissioner has sounded the alarm over the government’s proposed bill, known as Bill C-22. In Cooper’s account, the commissioner raised concerns that the bill would grant sweeping new powers to the government to collect personal information and conduct surveillance of Canadians. Cooper frames the commissioner’s warning as significant and says the public should be allowed to hear directly from the watchdog responsible for privacy protections.
The central dispute, according to Cooper, is procedural: he claims his motion for the Privacy Commissioner to appear before the appropriate parliamentary process was shut down by Liberal members. Cooper characterizes this as a refusal to allow expert testimony on the potential privacy impacts of the legislation. In his view, this prevents lawmakers from fully assessing the bill’s reach, safeguards, and consequences for individuals.
Cooper’s statement emphasizes the contrast between the commissioner’s expressed concerns and the government’s decision to block the opportunity for the commissioner to testify. He suggests that if the commissioner’s warnings are as serious as the commissioner alleges, then parliament should consider them carefully in open debate rather than restricting the commissioner’s participation.
The allegations relate to the bill’s authority and how it could be used. Cooper highlights that the commissioner’s stance is not merely theoretical; he points to specific issues around personal data gathering and surveillance. Cooper argues that the measure effectively expands the government’s ability to access and process Canadians’ information, which he presents as a major shift in privacy protections.
Cooper also implies that the government is acting defensively in response to criticism. He claims that after the Privacy Commissioner publicly flagged risks connected to Bill C-22, the Liberals moved to prevent the commissioner from providing testimony. Cooper presents this as an effort to avoid scrutiny and reduce the likelihood that the commissioner’s warnings will influence the legislative outcome.
In his portrayal of events, the motion’s rejection is not an isolated procedural event, but part of a broader pattern of limiting transparency. Cooper’s wording suggests the government wants to control how the bill is discussed and to keep the focus away from the independent privacy authority.
The statement positions Cooper and the Conservative side as advocating for accountability and expert input. By requesting the Privacy Commissioner’s testimony, Cooper argues that parliament should seek clarity on whether the bill contains adequate limitations and whether it would respect Canadians’ rights. He treats the commissioner as an authoritative source on the privacy implications of laws that govern surveillance and data handling.
While the statement itself does not provide detailed provisions of the bill, it centers on the reported concern that Bill C-22 would expand the government’s power in ways that could erode privacy. Cooper’s message is that the potential harms are significant enough to warrant direct testimony from the commissioner who is warning against the legislation.
The dispute also reflects wider public anxieties about surveillance and data collection. Cooper frames the issue as a matter of Canadians being affected by how their personal data is gathered and used, and he argues that it is essential for legislative deliberations to include informed privacy expertise.
In conclusion, Michael Cooper claims the Liberal government blocked his motion to have the Privacy Commissioner testify on Bill C-22 after the commissioner “sounded the alarm” about sweeping new powers for collecting personal data and surveilling Canadians. He describes the move as an attempt to silence the commissioner and prevent the privacy watchdog’s concerns from shaping parliamentary review.
Source: Source
Michael Cooper, MP: BREAKING Liberals SHUT DOWN my motion for the Privacy Commissioner to testify on Liberal Surveillance Law C-22. The Commissioner has SOUNDED THE ALARM on a Bill that gives the Govt SWEEPING new powers to collect personal data & surveil Canadians. Now they want to SILENCE him.. #breaking
— @MichaelCooperMP May 1, 2026
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