It’s a busy election year in BC and across the country. FIPA has been engaged in different ways and continues to send and receive letter’s, surveys, and resources. This is our central page for 2026.
FIPA’s Electoral Focus
What distinguishes a candidate or party in how they approach access to public records or the handling of personal information? How do regulators view their role in the protection of personal information and monitoring democratic processes?
An answer needs to explain more than simply expressing support for a principle. It needs to not only explain what the priority is but also describe what would change and when this change would happen.
Our questionnaires are designed to be used by members of the public as a guide to speaking with candidates and delegates about these issues. We invite people to pose these questions and use and share these resources.
Public expectations provide our starting point
On access, Ipsos-FIPA polling from September 2024 surveyed 800 BC Adults.1 When asked about recordkeeping problems, 82% considered changing organizational cultures toward accepting public interest disclosure and improving records-management practice important and 80% considered increasing resources for freedom of information and records-management functions important.
On privacy and political parties, an Ipsos poll, conducted in April, 2026 for FIPA and three coalition partners (the Canadian Civil Liberties Association, the Centre for Digital Rights and OpenMedia), surveyed 2,001 Canadian adults online.2 80% of respondents agreed that federal political parties should be subject to independent review and oversight of their use of personal information.
In May 2026 Ipsos-FIPA surveyed 801 Albertans online. It found 84% agreed that political parties should be subject to the same private-sector privacy laws that apply to other organizations.3 In March 2026, Parliament enacted Bill C-4, which exempts federal political parties from provincial privacy laws, retroactive to 31 May 2000.4
These findings inform our monitoring and questions to candidates, parties and regulators. Our fast facts provide a quick resource for you to consider in elections.
Our questionnaires for candidates and parties focus on what would change, be maintained or reviewed—and why. The questions address access to information, privacy, recordkeeping, AI, independent oversight, accessible services, cyber security and digital sovereignty. We also consider how people facing accessibility, language, financial, geographic, immigration-status, digital or safety barriers (including risk of gender-based violence) would be served. Indigenous information rights and data sovereignty are addressed separately (Question 7 of the party and leader questionnaire; Question 8 of the candidate survey).
Our questions seek details for implementation priorities and the timelines to achieve them.
Regulators have a vital role to play in the democratic process. The Alberta Data Breach5, foreign interference6, the use of foreign platforms7, and the growing use of AI by campaign8 all point to emerging items that require regulator response. FIPA and the BC Civil Liberties Association are asking BC’s privacy and election regulators which parties remain committed to the Political Campaign Activity Code of Practice, whether it is shaping privacy practices, and what it means for local government elections.
FIPA plans to review available platforms and we will publish responses we receive without endorsing, grading or ranking candidates or parties. A missing response will be recorded as missing—not interpreted as a position.
Later, a response can be revisited alongside budgets, policies and implementation records. Those documents can show what was proposed, what decisions followed and what remains unresolved.
You can make an impact!
Learn more by reading our resources. Engage in the democratic process nationally, provincially, and locally. Ask how a decision would be documented, how a campaign would handle your information, or how someone could question an automated decision. Ask privately or publicly, share the response and post it publicly if you so choose.
Reference
Catherine Knaus, “British Columbians’ Views on Information Management in Public Bodies” (26 September 2024), online: Ipsos <www.ipsos.com/en-ca/british-columbians-views-information-management-public-bodies> [perma.cc/____-____]. Online survey of 800 British Columbians aged 18 and over, conducted 12–16 September 2024 for the BC Freedom of Information and Privacy Association; credibility interval ±4.2 percentage points, 19 times out of 20. See also BC Freedom of Information and Privacy Association & Ipsos, Combined FIPA–Ipsos Banner Tables (26 September 2024) at Q4, online (pdf): FIPA <fipa.bc.ca/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/20240926-Combined-FIPA-IPSOS-Banner-1-2.pdf> [perma.cc/____-____].
Kyle Braid, “Protections Wanted for How Federal Political Parties Use Personal Information” (21 April 2026), online: Ipsos <www.ipsos.com/en-ca/protections-wanted-how-federal-political-parties-use-personal-information> [perma.cc/____-____]. Online survey of 2,001 Canadians aged 18 and over, conducted 7–8 April 2026 for the BC Freedom of Information and Privacy Association, the Canadian Civil Liberties Association, the Centre for Digital Rights and OpenMedia; credibility interval ±2.7 percentage points, 19 times out of 20.
Kyle Braid, “Albertans Want Better Safeguards for Voter Information” (2 June 2026), online: Ipsos <www.ipsos.com/en-ca/albertans-want-better-safeguards-voter-information> [perma.cc/____-____]. Online survey of 801 Albertans aged 18 and over, conducted 22–26 May 2026 for the BC Freedom of Information and Privacy Association; credibility interval ±4.2 percentage points, 19 times out of 20.
Making Life More Affordable for Canadians Act, SC 2026, c 2, s 47 (enacting Canada Elections Act, SC 2000, c 9, ss 446.1–446.4) and s 49 (deemed in force 31 May 2000) [pinpoints to be verified].
Kyle Braid, “Albertans Want Better Safeguards for Voter Information” (2 June 2026), online: Ipsos <www.ipsos.com/en-ca/albertans-want-better-safeguards-voter-information> [perma.cc/____-____]. Online survey of 801 Albertans aged 18 and over, conducted 22–26 May 2026 for the BC Freedom of Information and Privacy Association; credibility interval ±4.2 percentage points, 19 times out of 20.
There are lots of ways to work with us or act as an Academic Advisor. We are always open to making our research results better so be sure to provide any feedback and constructive criticism regarding this publication to FIPA at fipa.bc.ca .
