Democracy Now! host detained at Canadian border

Alternative journalist Amy Goodman was delayed by Canadian border officials last week while they questioned her about whether she intended to discuss the upcoming 2010 Vancouver Olympic games — and not her latest book — at a public library in Vancouver, the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation reported.

The Democracy Now! host and two colleagues were delayed for 90 minutes on her way to give a speech supporting community radio stations at the Vancouver public library, Goodman explained in a Democracy Now! broadcast. Border agents asked Goodman about any plans to discuss the upcoming Olympics games before they photographed the trio, stapled control documents to their passports, searched their vehicle and laptop computers and sent them on their way.

Canadian groups have argued that speech regulations and measures targetting the homeless near the Olympics site violate civil liberties.

Goodman, who is well known for her vocal opposition to the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, says she believes she was targeted due to her profession.

"I am deeply concerned that as a journalist I would be flagged and that the concern – the major concern – was the content of my speech," Goodman told the CBC.