Fifty-six organizations, including BC FIPA, have submitted a joint letter to the BC government that raises concerns of a proposed overhaul of the BC Societies Act. The new legislation would allow any member of the public (or a corporation) to bring a legal action against a society on the basis that it is acting against […]

NEWS RELEASE September 23, 2014 BC government “going backward” on FOI performance-Commissioner’s report   VANCOUVER, September 23, 2014–In a scathing report released earlier today, Information and Privacy Commissioner Elizabeth Denham calls out the BC government on historic delays in responding to Freedom of Information requests. https://www.oipc.bc.ca/special-reports/1696 Entitled A Step Backwards, the Commissioner’s report indicates the […]

NEWS RELEASE September 15, 2014 2014 Information Summit opens in Vancouver this Friday Conference will examine future of Freedom of Information and Privacy   Vancouver, September 15, 2014–The BC Freedom of Information and Privacy Association (FIPA)  is excited to announce that the 2014 BC Information Summit will take place this Friday, September 19th at UBC […]

Right to Know week is rapidly approaching, and we are excited to kick off with the 2014 Information Summit on Friday September 19. But that’s not all we have planned. On the following Friday, to wrap up a week of information access events that will be held across the country, we’re teaming up with Media […]

NEWS RELEASE August 28, 2014 BC Police dig deep into job applicants’ personal information BC FIPA asks Information and Privacy Commissioner to investigate overcollection VANCOUVER, B.C.—A number of police departments across BC are asking some very intrusive questions, and not about criminals under investigation. The BC Freedom of Information and Privacy Association has filed a […]

August 28, 2014 Office of the Information and Privacy Commissioner PO Box 9038 4th Floor — 947 Fort Street Victoria, BC V8W 9A4 BY E Mail: info@oipc.bc.ca Dear Commissioner: RE: Request for investigation into excessive collection of information by police forces in employment applications I am writing to ask you to conduct an investigation under s.42 […]

The countdown to Information Summit 2014 has begun, and more than a dozen excellent and expert speakers and panelists are gearing up for the event! BC’s Information and Privacy Commissioner Elizabeth Denham will kick things off with a keynote address on recent developments in access and privacy, including how her office is forced to use […]

Request for an investigation into the failure of the BC Government to release information about the Mount Polley tailings pond, contrary to s.25 of FIPPA. Download the complaint

NEWS RELEASE August 11, 2014 BC Government had obligation to release tailings pond info BC FIPA asks Info and Privacy Commissioner to investigate BC government (in)action   VANCOUVER, B.C.—The BC Freedom of Information and Privacy Association has filed a complaint with the BC Information and Privacy Commissioner over the BC government’s failure to release information […]

FIPA’s submission to Phases 1 and 2 of a consultation by the federal government on the government’s initiatives under the Open Government Partnership. We resubmitted our comments from previous consultations, and emphasized again the need to update the Access to Information Act. Download submission

Announcement of the launch of FIPA’s new health privacy website, www.healthinfoprivacy.bc.ca Download release

Provincial private sector privacy laws will also be affected The Supreme Court of Canada has blown away the underpinnings of the federal government’s online spying legislation, but the effects will be much wider.In a decision handed down last week, the Court found that contrary to the statements by a number of government officials and lawyers, […]