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Subject: BC Politician's Cellular Calls Taped; Big Mess Ensues
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Date: 22 Jul 90 03:19:01 GMT
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X-Telecom-Digest: Volume 10, Issue 509, Message 4 of 10


The _Toronto_Star_, 21st July 1990 had an article entitled "Phone puts
B.C.  whiz kid's career on hold". It was about the controversy
surrounding former British Columbia Attorney-General Bud Smith, after
some tapes of some of his cellular phone calls were released.
 
Brian Graves, a freelance radio reported in Victoria, BC started to
tape {_some of Smith's cellular calls, particularly those exposing a
dubious liaison with TV reporter Margot Sinclair. Smith also let loose
with some nasty rhetoric about his politician buddies (within the same
party at that).
 
These cellular recordings were referred to as the "Rocky and
Bullwinkle Show" tapes, considering that "Rocky" was a nickname Smith
used for TV reporter Sinclair. Needless to say, a whole mess of
ethical and legal questions has come up, for both reporters and
politicians.
 
It should be noted that Canada does not have the same restrictions on
actual reception of cellular telephone frequencies that exist with the
ECPA in the US. Technically, it is legal in Canada to receive the
cellular frequencies, but there is a "secrecy of communications" law
which would prohibit divulging any information gained from receiving
non-broadcast radio transmissions.