The suspension of Parliament in the ongoing political crisis is not likely to interfere with a much-needed anti-spam bill tabled earlier this year. Bill S-202, the Anti-Spam Act, which received its second reading in early December before Parliament was prorogued, would crack down on spam by prohibiting the sending of commercial emails to Canadians without […]

Weekly privacy news briefs from around the world Privacy News Highlights – 7 Jan 2008 Privacy News Highlights – 21 Jan 2008 Privacy News Highlights – 31 Jan 2008 Privacy News Highlights – 14 Feb 2008 Privacy News Highlights – 28 Feb 2008 Privacy News Highlights – 20 Mar 2008 Privacy News Highlights – 31 […]

B.C., ONTARIO PRIVACY COMMISSIONERS ISSUE GUIDELINES AFTER SUICIDES OF TWO STUDENTS The reluctance of two universities to disclose information that might have saved two lives has prompted the B.C. and Ontario privacy commissioners to issue guidelines clarifying when schools may release personal information without violating the law. “Life trumps privacy,” was the message Thursday from […]

In an effort to protect and advance the human rights of freedom of expression and privacy, a diverse coalition of leading information and communications companies, major human rights organizations, academics, investors and technology leaders today launched the Global Network Initiative. From the Americas to Europe to the Middle East to Africa and Asia, companies in […]

Here is the Fall Update for our members. In this Issue: FIPA joins with newspaper and taxpayer groups to challenge federal Conservatives on failure to fulfil Access to Information promises Campaign for Open Government pauses to prepare for 2009 push Electronic health records in BC no cause to rejoice! All-party review of BC’s Personal Information […]

FIPA and the office of BC’s Information Commissioner are bringing the world’s leading commentator on freedom of information issues to Vancouver during Right to Know Week. Right to Know Week starts on Sunday, September 28, 2008 and runs until October 3, 2008. During the week, events are held to focus public attention on the vital […]

The Information and Privacy Commissioner, David Loukidelis, has filed his decision regarding the impact of third party requests for review in the ongoing IBM contract disclosure dispute. BC FIPA was the original applicant in the FOI request. “The Ministry and the third party, IBM, argued that IBM’s request for review of the Ministry’s decision to […]

The BC government increasingly engages in secret consultations when legislative and policy changes are being considered. The latest example concerns proposed amendments to the Police Act. In order to participate in consultations, BC Civil Liberties Association was asked to sign a confidentiality agreement that requires participants to keep secret everything said both before AND AFTER […]

In the face of growing surveillance of travellers, many Canadians are being caught in the web of government watch lists. Civil liberties groups and major labour unions are pooling their efforts to document how these measures are violating our privacy and mobility rights. The International Civil Liberties Monitoring Group (ICLMG – FIPA is a member) […]

BC FIPA has sent a letter to the Prime Minister regarding the Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement (ACTA) to highlight its concerns with the possible implementation of ACTA, such as the impact it could have on the privacy of individuals crossing the border and to urge the government to consult the public before adopting the agreement. Read […]

The Canadian government is secretly negotiating an international trade agreement which could broaden the power of law enforcement officials to invade your privacy, snoop into the content on your personal electronic devices and make a lot more copied content illegal. Led by the United States, the Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement (ACTA) would revamp copyright laws and […]

On November 26, 2006, BC FIPA and the BC Civil Liberties Association made several recommendations on improving the Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act (PIPEDA) to the Standing Committee on Access to Information, Privacy and Ethics. Today, both organizations jointly presented their evaluation of the government’s performance in responsding to those recommendations, as well […]