Law Reform

Topic: Law Reform


Joint Statement: Fix Canada’s broken access to information system

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, […]

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Response from OIPC: Publishing investigation reports online

Download letter now Letter from the Office of the Information and Privacy Commissioner in response to BC FIPA’s complaint about the BC government refusing to post reports.

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BC Election Act Challenge goes to Supreme Court of Canada

On June 22, 2015, FIPA filed an Application for Leave to appeal the judgment of the Court of Appeal for British Columbia on our Election Act challenge. The BC Election Act makes something as simple as putting a handwritten sign in your window during the election period without registering with the authorities an offense, which […]

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An “embarrassing” interpretation of the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act: FIPA files complaint about B.C. government burying negative reports

Nobody likes going public with embarrassing reports, but the B.C. government has conjured some of its most creative legal analyses yet in an attempt to keep less flattering information out of the public realm. The B.C. government has refused to post both the McNeil report, which examines the mysterious Ministry of Health data breach firings, […]

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Press Release: BC Court of Appeal splits on Election Act third party spending

PRESS RELEASE April 23, 2015 BC Court of Appeal splits on Election Act third party spending FIPA calls on BC government to fix Election Act third party advertising provisions VANCOUVER, April 23, 2015 – In a 2-1 ruling handed down this morning, the BC Court of Appeal has upheld an earlier decision which found that […]

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FIPA’s Submission on Bill C-51

FIPA prepared a submission on Bill C-51 to the Standing Committee on Public Safety and National Security, asking the committee to withdraw the bill. Our submission is attached and below. INTRODUCTION FIPA is a non-partisan, non-profit society that was established in 1991 to promote and defend freedom of information and privacy rights in Canada. Our […]

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The Connected Car: Who is in the driver’s seat?

For more than twenty years, the B.C. Freedom of Information and Privacy Association has relied on the support of our community to provide resources, educational programming, and one-on-one advice. By making a contribution to the Association in exchange for this resource, you’re helping us provide another two decades of service to Canadians and supporting more […]

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Read it now! The Connected Car: Who is in the Driver’s Seat? is available for download

  FULL REPORT | EXECUTIVE SUMMARY | FAQS | PRIVACY ANALYSIS The BC Freedom of Information and Privacy Association (FIPA) has released a year-long study on privacy, consumer choice and onboard vehicle technology. The Connected Car: Who is in the Driver’s Seat? was written by privacy lawyer Philippa Lawson and generously funded by the Office […]

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Submission: Bill S-4

Bill S-4 would amend the Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act (PIPEDA). FIPA calls for political parties to be covered by the law and makes other recommendations. Click here to download FIPA’s submission to the Committee on Industry, Science and Technology on Bill S-4, delivered in Ottawa on March 10, 2015.  

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FIPA court challenge to the BC Election Act in the Court of Appeal

To read FIPA’s factum, click here To read FIPA’s reply factum, click here To read the factum of the respondent (the Attorney General of BC), click here To read the BC Civil Liberties Association’s (BCCLA) intervenor factum, click here

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Submission to the Special Committee to Review the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act

BC FIPA presented our recommendations to the Special Committee to Review the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (FIPPA) on October 16, 2015. Download our written submissions via the links below, or learn more about the Committee and its statutory review of the Act here. Our main written submission Our letter introducing supplementary submissions Supplementary […]

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BC Government refusing to post reports

Download letter now Complaint letter to Commissioner Denham re BC government refusing to post reports.  

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