Originally published in the Times Colonist, March 8 2015 In January, Prime Minister Stephen Harper told the audience at the campaign-style announcement of Bill C-51, the Anti-terrorism Act, that “the international jihadist movement has declared war on Canada.” As the broad definitions of “terrorism,” unclear purposes, lack of oversight and the other many disturbing aspects […]

The BC Freedom of Information and Privacy Association has requested that Information and Privacy Commissioner Elizabeth Denham conduct an investigation into a new BC government policy of not posting embarrassing reports. In a letter to the Commissioner, BC FIPA cited the government’s refusal to post either the McNeil report into the mysterious Ministry of Health […]

NEWS RELEASE December 15, 2014 FIPA finally gets Ministry of Health records after two year battle   VANCOUVER, December 15, 2014—The records requested by the BC Freedom of Information and Privacy Association in 2012 regarding contracts and other records related to the mysterious Ministry of Health data breach case have finally been released. They are […]

As we approach the end of 2014, it’s time for our annual check-in on the progress that’s been made for our information rights. It’s been a busy year for Information and Privacy Commissioner Elizabeth Denham, who has made a number of suggestions for important amendments to improve access and privacy laws in this province. Sadly, […]

Our online privacy rights are coming under intense scrutiny this month, as two bills threaten to expand the ability of law enforcement agencies (and others!) to access our personal information without a warrant. The highly unpopular C-13 is currently making its way through the Senate, and facing fierce opposition. Meanwhile Bill S-4, the Digital Privacy […]

Michael Sona was sentenced yesterday to nine months in jail plus a year’s probation, having been found guilty in August of using robocalls to try to keep 6,000 voters in Guelph, Ontario from casting ballots in the 2011 federal election. This case is not the first time that use of the Conservative Party’s Constituency Information […]

Online Spying Bill C-13 has already passed the House of Commons and will soon face a final vote in the Senate. But the Supreme Court of Canada has ruled that large parts of C-13 are unconstitutional. If passed, the Bill will face legal challenges and waste millions of taxpayer dollars. The Senate claims to be […]

FIPA has teamed up with OpenMedia and other members of the Protect Our Privacy Coalition to launch a pro-privacy crowdsourcing initiative. This week the highly controversial online spying Bill C-13 passed the House of Commons, despite concerns that the Supreme Court of Canada Spencer ruling likely makes the legislation unconstitutional. This also follows a year […]

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 […]

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, […]

Federal Privacy Commissioner’s Office awards grant to FIPA for ground-breaking research on vehicle telemetry.   Download release

Thanks to funding from the federal Privacy Commissioner’s Contributions Program, FIPA is launching a year-long study to examine the effect of electronic monitoring systems in our vehicles, on our privacy rights and consumer choice. Our vehicles are no longer simple mechanical devices which provide us with transportation, but electronic platforms capable of remarkable feats. This […]