DAN Albas, Conservative Critic for Innovation, Science and Economic Development and Internal Trade, on Monday slammed the Trudeau government’s plan to collect Canadians’ personal financial information.

Albas said: “Canadians’ personal financial information belongs to them and they have a right to know when it is being accessed and for what purpose. The government’s proposed new Personal Information Bank represents a disturbing and unprecedented intrusion into the private lives of individual Canadians.

“Unfortunately, the Trudeau Liberals have already failed to demonstrate adequate regard for the privacy of Canadians by refusing to ban from our 5G mobile network the Chinese-owned telecom Huawei, which Canada’s intelligence allies have flagged as a threat to national security. Now, the government is demanding that banks and credit card companies hand over Canadians’ detailed personal financial information without their consent.

“Protecting the personal information of Canadians is an integral role of government. Canada’s Conservatives are calling on Justin Trudeau and the Liberals to make sure this proposal doesn’t proceed in order to protect the privacy of Canadians.”