While I disagree with their reason for protesting, the governments heavy-handed response is outrageous. Thank you for bringing this to our attention. As you said, it certainly won't stay in Canada.

In addition to freezing our accounts should we get uppity, I think our corporate-owned governments want to be able to "un-pay" us by not just freezing, but withdrawing funds from our bank accounts. Why else would they set up the convenience of automatic deposit unless they have a plan for banks and credit unions to agree to automatic withdraws?

Don't think it too paranoid. My employer was able to do exactly that in December when they decided I needed to be punished for "poor performance." On my bank statement I saw the entry for the automatic deposit, then the reversal of that deposit was made minutes later, robbing me of half my pay for the month of December. Now, I have to wait for government bureaucrats to locate someone iin a position of authority at my employer who can reverse that decision. This was a decision made by 1 vindictive higher-up at the company, probably just to see if he could get away with it. It's not that far of a step to imagine our governments and our employers working together to squash any activity over something as simple as "tarnishing their image."

Imagine what would have happened in Canada if the protestors actively advocated overthrowing the government. What lengths would the government have gone to then?

Thanks again.