Victoria May 7, 2026 –  The wholesale violation of the privacy rights of millions of members of the Alberta electorate is, in part, a consequence of deliberate decisions made by government to exclude political parties from meaningful privacy laws.  This issue is not confined to Alberta, and while the actors at the centre of the egregious and harmful data breach are […]

Your Access and Privacy Online News Summary for Saturday, May 2nd. This week, we begin with a developing voter privacy story out of Alberta.  Elections Alberta says there was no breach of its own systems — but that a copy of the provincial List of Electors, provided to a legitimate political recipient, may have been […]

UPDATED 20260501 Inappropriate distribution of Alberta’s List of Electors highlights the need for enforceable privacy rights, independent oversight, and stronger protections against misuse of voter data  Press Release For Immediate Release Victoria April 30, 2026 –  The BC Freedom of Information and Privacy Association is calling for stronger voter privacy protections following Elections Alberta’s warning […]

Your Access and Privacy Online News Summary for Saturday, April 25th. This week, access-to-information rights are under pressure in Ontario and British Columbia, civil society is warning Parliament about Bill C-22, and new Ipsos polling shows Canadians want stronger privacy rules for federal political parties.  We’ll also look at FOI records, AI policy, connected vehicles, and […]

Your Access and Privacy Online News Summary for Saturday, April 18th. This week, we’re tracking a growing surveillance push in Canada — from federal bills that civil liberties advocates warn could expand state access to personal data, to local governments in British Columbia embracing deeper camera-based policing partnerships.  In Alberta, concerns are mounting over political interference in libraries and […]

Your Access and Privacy Online News Summary for Saturday, April 11th. This week, we’re tracking a troubling new phase in the pressure on access and privacy rights across Canada.  In British Columbia, the provincial government has confirmed it is now using artificial intelligence tools in freedom of information processing, even as concerns grow about transparency, accountability and the lack […]

April 8, 2026 – PACC Wisdom Wednesday Webinar. FIPA was pleased to have the opportunity to attend the Privacy & Access Council of Canada Wisdom Wednesday Webinar and consider the current state of access in Canada. In preparation for this round table discussion, Jason Woywada, Executive Director, BC Freedom of Information and Privacy Association drafted the […]

Your Access and Privacy Online News Summary for Saturday, March 28th. This week, Ontario’s government is moving to shield political records from access-to-information laws and it has set up a direct clash with the province’s independent privacy commissioner.  At the federal level, a new bill aimed at protecting Canada’s electoral system is raising early questions — including whether privacy concerns are addressed.   […]

March 23, 2026 – BC Freedom of Information and Privacy Association (FIPA) welcomes the opportunity to support the People’s Consultation on AI. Focusing on FIPA’s core policy concerns addressing a range of risks and opportunities, Ryan Rutley drafted the following submission to the Consultation.  Since ChatGPT was opened to the public in November 2022, technologies based on – or […]

Your Access and Privacy Online News Summary for Saturday, March 21st. This week, we begin with a troubling pattern that has been unfolding across Canada.  What started in British Columbia with Bill 9 is now being echoed elsewhere: governments and political actors chipping away at access-to-information and privacy rights while describing those changes as modernization, […]

Your Access and Privacy Online News Summary for Saturday, March 14th. It’s another busy week across Canada’s privacy and transparency landscape.  We’re tracking a major privacy investigation into Loblaw’s PC Optimum program, new conditions allowing TikTok to keep operating in Canada, and growing concerns about facial recognition and workplace AI surveillance.  And on the transparency front, Canada’s Information Commissioner is warning that […]

Victoria March 13, 2026 –  The first few months of 2026 have been a kind of slow-motion horror movie for freedom of information and the public’s right to know in Canada.   On February 26, the BC Government introduced Bill 9, the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Amendment Act. The Act, touted as a much-needed update to […]