La Presse says Montreal police got warrant to listen to journalists’ calls

The statement went on to say police did take “additional protective measures” in the event that journalists were to communicate with the officers in question, and that these measures were included in a judicial authorization approved by a judge.

Last week, Pichet told a news conference that surveillance of Lagace’s iPhone was restricted to logging incoming and outgoing numbers and activating the phone’s GPS chip.

In an interview earlier Saturday, Lagace said La Presse’s report showed police had not told the whole truth about the extent of the surveillance.

“If this is not a lie, it’s a gross misrepresentation of the truth,” Lagace told The Canadian Press.

Last week, La Presse reported it had learned at least 24 surveillance warrants were issued for Lagace’s phone as part of a police investigation into suspected crimes within the force.

Following the report, Montreal and Quebec provincial police admitted that several other journalists were placed under surveillance and had their cellphone logs tapped.

The Quebec government announced Thursday that an inquiry will be held into the monitoring.

On Saturday, Parti Quebecois Leader Jean-Francois Lisee suggested Pichet should withdraw from his duties for the duration of the inquiry, “so as not to taint the evidence in any way.”

Lagace declined to call for Pichet to step aside, saying “the problems of the (Montreal police) go deeper than the identity of the person currently leading.”

On Friday, a judge agreed to seal data collected from Lagace’s cellphone until a case by La Presse against Montreal police is heard on its merits.

Morgan Lowrie, The Canadian Press

by Canadian Press

La Presse says Montreal police got warrant to listen to journalists’ calls

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