Canadas top telecommunications industry group says any government move to force its members to install equipment to intercept digital traffic and store data to aid police investigations would have to be covered by taxpayers.

A proposal to allow Canadian police to compel suspects to hand over cellphone passwords and computer encryption codes has sparked an outcry from civil liberties advocates and caused division among police leaders.

Most Canadians feel strongly about their right to privacy online, but a new poll shows the vast majority are willing to grant police new powers to track suspects in the digital realm so long as the courts oversee the cops.