FIPA highlighted the importance of both the right to privacy and the open court principle in our submission to a consultation the Court Services Online (CSO) system, which was held by the Chief Judge of the BC Provincial Court of BC. The open court principle is fundamental in a democratic society, as it allows citizens to scrutinize the workings of […]

It was a busy Right To Know Week for the FIPA team. In addition to our day-to-day work pushing for a stronger access to information system, we spent this week going out into the world to spread the good word about FOI. First, we hosted FOI 101, an introductory workshop on filing freedom of information […]

FIPA was the first witness to appear before the Special Legislative Committee reviewing the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act in Vancouver, BC, and we had lots of material for the committee to consider. You can read our entire submission here, in the “Policy Submissions and Letters” section of our website. The Act […]

Together with the Canadian Taxpayers Federation and Newspapers Canada, FIPA planned to ask the federal parties to describe what they would do to repair and improve transparency policies and practices. This effort quickly expanded to include 22 transparency organizations from across the country. Jointly with all of those groups, FIPA developed and signed a joint […]

Information and Privacy Commissioner refers matter to RCMP VANCOUVER, October 22, 2015 – The BC Freedom of Information and Privacy Association (FIPA) is appalled, but not surprised by the stunning findings in the BC Information and Privacy Commissioner’s report on the destruction of email records related to missing women on the Highway of Tears. Commissioner Elizabeth […]

VANCOUVER, October 16, 2015 – One month ago, a coalition of 22 NGOs from across Canada signed a joint statement calling on the leaders of Canada’s federal parties to make concrete commitments to reform Canada’s outdated Access to Information Act. Today, we are pleased to see the NDP and Liberal parties have included commitments in their platforms […]

Federal government summary states domestic data storage requirements are banned under TPP  VANCOUVER, October 8, 2015 – The BC Freedom of Information and Privacy Association (FIPA) is expressing concern that certain legal requirements in BC’s privacy law will be undercut by the now-finalized Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) deal. According to a summary of the TPP posted by Foreign […]

FIPA is highlighting the importance of both the right to privacy and the open court principle in our submission to a consultation the Court Services Online (CSO) system, being held by the Chief Judge of the BC Provincial Court of BC. The open court principle is fundamental in a democratic society, as it allows citizens to scrutinize the workings […]

Update: Thank you to all who expressed interested in this workshop! FIPA will be celebrating this year’s Right To Know Week by hosting another of our highly-acclaimed workshops on filing Freedom of Information (FOI) requests. Join us in Vancouver on Tuesday, September 29th for FOI 101, and learn the basic practical skills needed to start tackling […]

The following is a joint statement sent to Canada’s major federal parties, and signed by FIPA alongside a number of other organizations interested in improving Canada’s access to information system. Read on to learn more, or read the press release at cjfe.org. The deficit of trust between Canada’s voters and its elected officials has never been higher, […]

Download the letter. Letter from the Office of the Information and Privacy Commissioner in response to BC FIPA’s complaint about the government’s failure to inform the OIPC of the changed status of an RCMP file on Ministry of Health firings (see press release).

Many questions remain after Commissioner addresses FOI complaint relating to controversial Ministry of Health firings VANCOUVER, September 10, 2015 – The BC Freedom of Information and Privacy Association (FIPA) is raising concerns that RCMP or other files could be left open indefinitely, thereby avoiding requests under the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act. […]