FIPA sent a letter on May 4 to the Leaders of BC’s three leading political parties, asking them to clearly state their positions on a wide range of issues concerning freedom of information. We are deeply concerned with the 10-year decline in access to government information that has occurred under the last NDP and current […]

These are the questions we sent to the leaders of BC’s political parties to survey their views on freedom of information and privacy.   If or when your party forms the next B.C. government:   1. Do you think that access to government information should be increased? If so, what measures will you take to […]

In the summer of 2004, ID theft was a hot issue. Since then, it has exploded. There has been a flurry of activity in Canada and the United States, as regulators and companies alike struggle to keep up with the rapid growth in this white collar crime. Consequently, while the research has progressed, it has […]

BC FIPA has provided its comments on Justice Canada’s new Lawful Access proposals. These proposals were announced as part of the government’s consultations on Lawful Access. FIPA continues to be opposed to many of the New Lawful Access Proposals as they unjustifiably intrude upon the privacy rights of Canadian citizens. We repeat the concerns outlined […]

FIPA has joined with 83 other Civil liberties groups in the “International Campaign against Mass Surveillance”. The campaign is calling on countries around the globe to rein in the growing number of “intrusive and discriminatory measures” that profile, monitor and track individuals in the name of fighting terrorism. Citizens and groups around the world are […]

FIPA has submitted a paper to the House of Commons Subcommittee on Public Safety and National Security, which is currently reviewing Canada’s Anti-terrorism Act. Entitled “Canada’s Anti-terrorism Act: an unjustified limitation of freedom of information and privacy rights”, the report calls for the rollback of changes wrought by the Act. In FIPA’s view, the tragic […]

OTTAWA , April 5, 2005 – The Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada, Irwin Cotler, today presented a discussion paper on Access to Information reform to the Standing Committee on Access to Information, Privacy and Ethics. The paper outlines the Government’s views on access reform issues for the Committee’s consideration before the Government […]

BC FIPA has presented its submisson on the Anti-terrorism Act to the House of Commons Subcommittee on Public Safety and National Security. The submission, titled “Canada’s Anti-terrorism Act: an unjustified limitation of freedom of information and privacy rights” lays out BC FIPA’s position on the Anti-terrorism Act (ATA) and how it threatens freedom of information […]

The Canadian Parliament’s Subcommittee on Public Safety and National Security began a review of Canada’s Anti-terrorism Act on December 16, 2004. The Subcommittee will be accepting written submissions and holding public hearings during winter and spring 2005, with a view to tabling a report in the House of Commons in autumn of the same year. […]

A recently disclosed privacy breach at giant US-based information broker Choicepoint points out the need for a new law in Canada to help protect potential victims of identity theft, say two consumer and privacy advocacy groups — the Canadian Canadian Internet Policy and Public Interest Clinic (CIPPIC) and the Public Interest Advocacy Centre (PIAC). Choicepoint […]

Ottawa, January 27, 2005 – The Privacy Commissioner of Canada, Jennifer Stoddart, is pleased to announce that the Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada (OPC) is awarding $49,775, under its Contributions Program, to the British Columbia Freedom of Information and Privacy Association (FIPA) for a special study on identity theft. “The theft of personal […]

BC FIPA has compiled a table of the recommendations of the Office of the Information and Privacy Commissioner of British Columbia (OIPC) regarding amendments to the BCFreedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (FIPPA) and their level of implementation by the government. Very few of the recommendations have been implemented. Download the table (pdf).