The Harper government has backed off on plans to install listening devices at Canadian airports and border crossings amid serious concerns about privacy.

The decision by Public Safety Minister Vic Toews on Tuesday to halt the practice of eavesdropping on travellers’ conversation follows a backlash from both federal and provincial privacy officials.

This is the second time that Toews has had to climb down on issues of privacy. The last time was the Internet surveillance bill. As with the last time, he defended the move but then had to do an about-face.

The Star confirmed Monday that the federal privacy commissioner’s office had not even received a Privacy Impact Assessment regarding Canada Border Services Agency’s plan to introduce audio-video monitoring at Canadian airports.

“The recording of conversations obviously constitutes a privacy intrusion. We would want the CBSA to demonstrate the necessity for it. In addition, should the measure be deemed necessary, CBSA would have to demonstrate that it has proper safeguards to manage the information, proper compliance mechanisms and appropriate oversight,” a spokesperson for the federal privacy commissioner said.

Ontario Privacy Commissioner Ann Cavoukian said Monday while it is federal jurisdiction, she was no less taken aback that the Canada Border Services Agency was installing high-definition cameras and microphones with eventual plans to record what people are saying as they pass through certain areas of international airports and land crossings. “I just find that appalling,” Cavoukian said.

Julie Carmichael, a spokesperson for Toews, said Canadians made it clear they weren’t happy with the idea of having their conversations monitored.

Carmichael said Toews directed the CBSA to halt audio monitoring until a Privacy Impact Assessment can be submitted, and recommendations from the privacy commissioner can be reviewed by the government.

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