Today on the Hill: High court set to rule on police searches for Internet info

OTTAWA – An important ruling comes down today from the Supreme Court of Canada on whether police need to obtain a search warrant to get subscriber information from Internet service providers.

The ruling could effectively render part of the federal government’s current cyber-bullying bill unconstitutional.

The case involves a Saskatchewan man who is facing child pornography charges.

Police used the 19-year-old man’s Internet address to get further details from his online service provider, all without first obtaining a search warrant.

Lawyers for the man contend that’s a violation of his right to be protected from unlawful search and seizure.

Here are some other events happening around Parliament Hill today:

— Alice Wong, the minister of state for Seniors, will make an announcement regarding the New Horizons for Seniors Program to Jewish Family Services of Ottawa

— Statistics Canada will release the monthly survey of manufacturing for April. It will also unveil Canada’s international investment position for the first-quarter and release a study on home care services provided to Canadians in 2012.