General Guideline for Police Interaction scenarios
Be polite, even if you are not going to do what an officer is asking. For example, if police ask you to answer a question, say politely:
“I want to be helpful. My lawyer has told me not to answer questions."
If the police stop you, you have rights. Your rights and freedoms are protected under the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms and other Canadian laws.
Here’s what you need to know:
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You are not legally required to speak to Canadian Intelligence officers. If one of them contacts you for any reason you should not speak to them without first speaking to a lawyer. Participation in an interview with CSIS is entirely voluntary, and you have the right to refuse or to end the conversation at any time.
Any information you provide can be shared with other government organizations and international organizations, so it is best to be cautious and get advice.
You have the right to record in public spaces where you are legally present, as long as you are not interfering with the police doing their job.
There are very few situations where you are not allowed to record police. You should make sure when recording not to interfere with the police or get too close.
If police ask you to stop recording you should back up and say that you are not interfering with police work, but it is your legal right to record.
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