The Martlet

Investigating citizens for possessing subversive literature and recruiting informants against those who criticize authority are tactics usually reserved for thought-police in dystopian fantasy novels. Such tactics are also proving to be standard practice for the RCMP-led team responsible for Vancouver’s 2010 Olympic security.

The Vancouver Integrated Security Unit (VISU) is an Olympic security coalition of local police, RCMP and Canadian Forces. They have over $900 million, 7,000 policemen, 4,000 soldiers, 4,000 private security officers and a classified number of Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS) agents with which to protect the 2010 Olympic Games — from environmentalists and social justice advocates.

According to CSIS documents obtained under the Access to Information Act, the primary threat to Olympic security is “domestic extremism.” Victoria’s active environmental and social justice community and its proximity to Vancouver is definitely on VISU’s radar.

Last month, as Victoria bookstore owner Robert Garfat closed his shop, he was approached by a man wearing jeans, a dark hooded sweater and a few days’ growth of beard. Garfat and his wife were immediately alarmed when the man identified himself as RCMP Officer Mike Smook.

Garfat says Smook told him that the RCMP was looking for “eyes and ears” in the community, apparently because Garfat’s friendships with a number of active community members would make him a splendid recruit.

Garfat said that what disturbed him most, besides the disguise, was the fact that the officer was not specifically inquiring about violence, but requesting information on “disruptive” anti-Olympic activities.

“If I heard of a bomb on a ferry or poison gas on a train, you can bet I would report it to a security agency, but if you think I would inform on plans for peaceful demonstrations in a democratic society, you’re mistaken,” said Garfat.

The officer didn’t press the issue following Garfat’s reply, and requests to speak to Smook’s supervisor have gone unanswered. The RCMP is well within its legal rights to use undercover officers to collect information, but Garfat is concerned that such tactics could be used to intimidate activists.

“It makes people afraid to voice their opinions in legitimate protest,” said Garfat. “It’s Orwellian, really.”

Zoe Blunt, a stoic opponent of the Bear Mountain development and member of No 2010 Victoria, agrees with Garfat’s assessment.

“RCMP security officers are already trying to infiltrate social justice groups here, not because we represent any threat, but just because we are criticizing the games and speaking out about homelessness, poverty, racism and exploitation in B.C.,” Blunt said.

Blunt went on to say that her group has been approached by numerous Victoria residents regarding questionable VISU activity.

“According to several people who contacted us privately this week, the RCMP has succeeded in recruiting at least one informant — a child of 15,” Blunt said. “[They said] she has been co-operating with police for months.”

Blunt described how another resident reported to the group that he was questioned by police simply for possessing anti-Olympic literature. Blunt said that other activists have been reluctant to speak to journalists, fearing repercussions from the police.

Vancouver’s 2010 Olympics will not be the first controversial event in which security operations are overseen by the RCMP.

The last substantial protest in Canada took place in Montebello, Quebec in 2007. There, three undercover Quebec Provincial Police officers, or “agents provocateurs,” were made famous on YouTube after they were caught on videotape attempting to incite violence amongst protesters of the Security and Prosperity Partnership at a peaceful demonstration.

Olympic opposition groups are concerned not only with environmental destruction, elimination of low-income housing, financial cost and other direct negative consequences of the Olympics, but also with the accompanying restrictions on the right to publicly dissent.

VISU is discussing the use of “Free-Speech Zones” to contain protesters during the Olympics, one of which will likely be used in Victoria when the Olympic torch starts its cross-Canada relay in October.

Confining dissenting citizens to specific areas during the high-publicity Olympic events ensures that protesters’ views don’t get significant media coverage, effectively negating their Charter rights.

Michael Byers of the B.C. Civil Liberties Association describes the association’s recent attempts at opening a dialogue with the RCMP regarding citizens’ rights as unproductive.

“It hasn’t been easy dealing with the authorities,” said Byers. “With respect, we have pretty much hit a brick wall.”

Activists like Tamara Herman of No 2010 Victoria see the Olympics and the accompanying media attention as an ideal forum to publicize their causes, while federal, provincial and municipal governments seek to shade themselves from potential embarrassment under the bright lights of the world media.

Herman is concerned that the organizations ostensibly created to safeguard her freedoms are instead being used against her.

“We know whose interests security forces are protecting, and we know that they don’t want any resistance shown on TV screens as people around the world tune in to watch the ‘warm and fuzzy’ Olympics,” she said.