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 […]

FIPA and the BC Civil Liberties Association have released a joint submission to an all-party committee of the BC Legislature that is currently reviewing the province’s Personal Information Protection Act (PIPA). PIPA protects the privacy of personal information held by provincially-regulated businesses and non-profit groups. FIPA and BCCLA have called for improvements to the act […]

The new board chair of TransLink, BC’s public transit authority, is coming under fire for deciding to move the provincial transit authority’s previously public board meetings behind closed doors. Dale Parker says the media and the public will no longer be allowed into regular board meetings. He says the most effective process for developing strategic […]

Weekly privacy news briefs from around the world for 2007. Privacy News Highlights – 4 Jan 2007 Privacy News Highlights – 11 Jan 2007 Privacy News Highlights – 18 Jan 2007 Privacy News Highlights – 26 Jan 2007 Privacy News Highlights – 2 Feb 2007 Privacy News Highlights – 9 Feb 2007 Privacy News Highlights […]

On December 11, the 2007 Whistleblower Award was presented in a ceremony at Simon Fraser University’s Harbour Centre campus. A crystal trophy was presented to Gord McAdams, an Ecologist formerly with the BC government, by the Campaign for Open Government and the BC Freedom of Information and Privacy Association (FIPA). The ceremony featured remarks by […]

The Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada introduced legislation to help combat identity theft on November 21. “This Government is following through on its commitment to give police the tools they need to better protect Canadians by stopping identity theft activity before the damage is done,” said Minister Nicholson. “I have tabled legislation […]

The special committee to review BC’s Personal Information Protection Act (PIPA) has issued a call for written submissions. The deadline is February 12, 2008. PIPA is BC’s privacy act covering provincially-regulated private sector organizations, including businesses and non-profit groups. This is the first review of BC’s PIPA since it was passed in 2003. FIPA will […]

The news over the summer that the CRTC was at long last moving forward with a national do-not-call list generated a sigh of relief from millions of Canadians fed up with intrusive, unwanted and inconvenient unsolicited telemarketing calls. In the past few months, the do-not-call list details have begun to emerge with the CRTC addressing […]