Carney’s new bill prohibiting $10,000 cash transactions and permitting mail inspection sparks outrage as Canadians fear a return to the dystopian overreach seen during the Freedom Convoy bank freezes.
Key Takeaways
- Bill C-2, the Strong Borders Act, would prohibit cash payments over $10,000 and authorize mail inspection, raising serious privacy concerns
- The Justice Centre for Constitutional Freedoms has launched a petition opposing the bill, arguing it undermines fundamental freedoms and opens the door to government surveillance
- Civil penalties for non-compliance could reach $4 million for individuals and $20 million for entities
- Critics draw parallels to the government’s freezing of bank accounts during the 2022 Freedom Convoy protests
- The Conservative Party opposes the bill as conflicting with the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms
Carney’s Cash Crackdown Threatens Canadian Liberties
Prime Minister Mark Carney’s Liberal government has introduced Bill C-2, euphemistically called the “Strong Borders Act,” which critics warn represents a dangerous expansion of government surveillance over Canadians’ financial activities. The legislation would criminalize cash transactions exceeding $10,000, force all businesses regulated for anti-money laundering to register with government agencies, and prohibit anonymous accounts. These sweeping changes would fundamentally alter Canadians’ relationship with their own money, effectively forcing all significant financial transactions into easily monitored digital channels.
“Cash is under attack in Canada. When cash is criminalized, governments, banks, and law enforcement can track and interfere with legitimate purchases and donations,” warns the Justice Centre for Constitutional Freedoms (JCCF).
The penalties proposed for violating these new regulations are severe, with civil penalties reaching up to $4 million for individuals and an astounding $20 million for entities. This punitive approach seems designed not merely to prevent money laundering but to intimidate Canadians into abandoning cash entirely. The legislation also enhances the powers of the Financial Transactions and Reports Analysis Centre of Canada (FINTRAC), elevating its director to membership on the Financial Institutions Supervisory Committee, creating an even more interconnected surveillance apparatus.
Mail Inspection Powers Raise Constitutional Concerns
Beyond attacking financial privacy, Bill C-2 contains provisions that would amend the Canada Post Corporation Act to allow authorities to open mail under certain circumstances. This represents an unprecedented intrusion into Canadians’ private communications, raising serious questions about constitutional protections against unreasonable search and seizure. The bill also expands law enforcement exemptions from certain Criminal Code provisions during investigations, potentially creating a dangerous loophole for civil liberties violations.
“Cash means freedom from surveillance: by government, by banks, by credit card companies, and by other businesses,” notes the Justice Centre for Constitutional Freedoms (JCCF).
The Conservative Party of Canada has correctly identified this legislation as conflicting with the Charter of Rights and Freedoms. Many Canadians still vividly remember the Liberal government’s unprecedented freezing of bank accounts during the 2022 Freedom Convoy protests, when citizens peacefully demonstrating against vaccine mandates suddenly found themselves unable to access their own money. Bill C-2 appears designed to formalize and expand these emergency powers into permanent law.
Growing Opposition to Government Overreach
The Justice Centre for Constitutional Freedoms has launched a petition to keep cash legal and accessible, recognizing the fundamental threat this legislation poses to personal autonomy. JCCF president John Carpay didn’t mince words when he stated, “Restricting the use of cash is a dangerous step towards tyranny.” This sentiment is increasingly shared by Canadians who recognize that privacy in financial matters isn’t about concealing wrongdoing but maintaining essential freedoms in a democratic society.
While the government frames Bill C-2 as targeting money laundering and terrorist financing, the legislation’s broad scope suggests its true purpose is expanding state control over citizens’ financial lives. The bill creates a comprehensive framework for monitoring, restricting, and potentially blocking financial transactions that fall outside government-approved channels. Canadians who value their privacy and freedom should recognize this legislation for what it is a dangerous overreach that threatens foundational liberties.
