The Senate has given Second Reading to a bill allowing police to intercept parcels in the mail. Federal law dating from the Confederation era prohibits police from opening suspicious packages in transit.

“This ban is far too broad,” said Senator Claude Carignan (Que.). The Canada Post Corporation Act was full of “loopholes” used by drug dealers, he said.

“Traffickers have spread the word that there is much less risk of their packages being intercepted if they send them through Canada Post rather than through any other private courier company such as FedEx, UPS, Purolator or DHL,” said Senator Carignan.

Bill S-256 An Act To Amend The Canada Post Corporation Act would permit police to intercept parcels in transit that are suspected of containing contraband. Current practice sees postal inspectors tip off police to suspicious mail for follow-up once it is delivered to a listed address.