In an effort to protect and advance the human rights of freedom of expression and privacy, a diverse coalition of leading information and communications companies, major human rights organizations, academics, investors and technology leaders today launched the Global Network Initiative. From the Americas to Europe to the Middle East to Africa and Asia, companies in […]

B.C., ONTARIO PRIVACY COMMISSIONERS ISSUE GUIDELINES AFTER SUICIDES OF TWO STUDENTS The reluctance of two universities to disclose information that might have saved two lives has prompted the B.C. and Ontario privacy commissioners to issue guidelines clarifying when schools may release personal information without violating the law. “Life trumps privacy,” was the message Thursday from […]

Here is the Fall Update for our members. In this Issue: FIPA joins with newspaper and taxpayer groups to challenge federal Conservatives on failure to fulfil Access to Information promises Campaign for Open Government pauses to prepare for 2009 push Electronic health records in BC no cause to rejoice! All-party review of BC’s Personal Information […]

Three national organizations concerned about openness and accountability in government have written to Prime Minister Stephen Harper to ask what became of the Conservatives’ 2006 campaign promises to reform the Access to Information Act. The Canadian Newspaper Association, Canadian Taxpayers Federation and BC Freedom of Information and Privacy Association (FIPA) are attempting to put the […]

The Information and Privacy Commissioner, David Loukidelis, has filed his decision regarding the impact of third party requests for review in the ongoing IBM contract disclosure dispute. BC FIPA was the original applicant in the FOI request. “The Ministry and the third party, IBM, argued that IBM’s request for review of the Ministry’s decision to […]

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 […]