Break-ins against activist groups

Year Published:  1989
Resource Type:  Article
Cx Number:  CX3673

Several environmental and peace groups have suffered break-ins at their premises this past year. These include the Ontario Environment Network in Toronto, the Canadian Environmental Law Association in Toronto, the Toronto chapter of Science for Peace, the Green Party of British Columbia in Vancouver, and the Ottawa office of NDP MP Jim Fulton.

Abstract: 
Several environmental and peace groups have suffered break-ins at their premises this past year. These include the Ontario Environment Network in Toronto, the Canadian Environmental Law Association in Toronto, the Toronto chapter of Science for Peace, the Green Party of British Columbia in Vancouver, and the Ottawa office of NDP MP Jim Fulton. Fulton headed the NDP's Environmental Task Force which recently held hearings across the country.

The Ontario Environment Network and the Canadian Environmental Law Association both were robbed of information and computer equipment. Nothing was taken from Fulton's office, but files were gone through, and Fulton believes that materials were photocopied on the office photocopier.

Green party spokesman Murray Gudmundson said party officials believe the break-in at their office was politically motivated. "All the filing cabinets were open and had been rifled through," he said. "We're still not sure what's missing. They left a photocopier and stereo, but stole a computer and hard disk, which held our mailing and membership lists. The office was vandalized as well.

For the most part, expensive equipment such as computers and fax machines have been ignored, while correspondence, mailing lists, financial records, and strategy papers have been gone after.

Federal Solicitor-General Jean-Jacques Blais has said that he has been assured by the RCMP that there is no connection between any of the break-ins. One man has been charged in connection with a break-in at the Burnaby, B.C. offices of Lifeforce, an animal rights group. Another man has been charged with the break-in at the Ontario Environment Network.