In his annual report released today, BC’s Information and Privacy Commissioner announced that he will begin issuing regular public report cards on the performance of government ministries in complying with the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act. Commissioner Loukidelis also reported that privacy breaches are on the rise in British Columbia. “We investigated […]

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 […]

The federal Conservatives have quietly killed an access to information registry used by journalists, experts and the public that users say helped hold the government accountable. The Coordination of Access to Information Requests System, or CAIRS, is an electronic list of nearly every access to information request filed to federal departments and agencies. Originally created […]

FIPA is applauding the BC government’s removal of excessive secrecy clauses from its two new Greenhouse Gas Reduction bills. In the face of strong opposition, the Government deleted confidentiality clauses in Bills 16 and 18 which overrode the Freedom of Information act. The clauses would have imposed a wall of secrecy around the government’s dealings […]

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 […]

Department’s Employees Blame Inadequate Resources, Bureaucratic Attitudes The federal Access to Information process appears to be in crisis as the rising number of requests, along with the pressure of the Harper government’s promises of increased transparency, are not being met with additional funding and resources, a new government report indicates. The assessment, based on focus […]

Excerpt, link to full Globe and Mail article below: The Harper Conservatives have failed to deliver on their key election promise to open up the federal government to greater scrutiny and to offer a transparent administration to Canadians, retired judge John Gomery told MPs yesterday. The former head of the inquiry into the sponsorship scandal […]

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 […]

An investigation by BC’s Information and Privacy Commissioner has pointed to “systemic problems” with the way the BC Ministry of Environment has responded to Freedom of Information requests submitted by environmental groups and has led to broad changes within the Ministry. The investigation, one of only four undertaken by the Commissioner’s Office in the last […]