BC Freedom of Information and Privacy Association
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Access to information reforms urgently needed, says BC’s Information Commissioner
In his annual report, released today, Information and Privacy Commissioner David Loukidelis has called on the Premier and Cabinet to show leadership by amending the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act to restore the public’s access to information rights that were curtailed by a BC Court of Appeal Decision.
“The bottom line is that the bureaucracy is perfectly content with the Court of Appeal’s overly narrow view of public access to information rights under FIPPA. This is unfortunate, since it unnecessarily and inappropriately empowers more information to be hidden from the public than before,” the Commissioner stated.
In his annual message, the Commissioner also expressed concern about the impact on privacy of the push for more state intrusion in the name of national security, fighting terrorism and law enforcement.
“Unless the state can show, based on real evidence that it has a compelling need to limit our liberty, our business is not the government’s business,” he stated.
In his annual report, released today, Information and Privacy Commissioner David Loukidelis has called on the Premier and Cabinet to show leadership by amending the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act to restore the public’s access to information rights that were curtailed by a BC Court of Appeal Decision.
“The bottom line is that the bureaucracy is perfectly content with the Court of Appeal’s overly narrow view of public access to information rights under FIPPA. This is unfortunate, since it unnecessarily and inappropriately empowers more information to be hidden from the public than before,” the Commissioner stated.
In his annual message, the Commissioner also expressed concern about the impact on privacy of the push for more state intrusion in the name of national security, fighting terrorism and law enforcement.
“Unless the state can show, based on real evidence that it has a compelling need to limit our liberty, our business is not the government’s business,” he stated.