Resources

Resources


FIPA launches Transparency Matters

Bill 22 is a failure. We suspected it might be bad. On review it is worse than anyone expected. “We started to compile pluses and minuses,” says FIPA (Freedom of Information and Privacy Association) Executive Director Jason Woywada. “The problem is there are so few positives and so many serious minuses we needed to take immediate […]

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On National Day for Truth and Reconciliation

As part of our efforts to recognize the importance of the events and actions past and present that surround this date, FIPA wishes to highlight work being done in the area. Legal Perspectives Indigenous Canadian Conceptions of Privacy: A Legal Primer In 2019, while at Thompson Rivers University Faculty of Law, Kimberly Gee was recognized by the Canadian […]

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2021 Federal Election Letters

Working with our partners in the Right to Information Alliance of Canada (RTIAC) we sent letters to the major political parties to determine what their commitment is to greater Government Transparency. The Individual letters to the parties and the responses received are at the bottom of this page. RTIAC Letters to Parties – RTIAC Questions – […]

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2021 FIPA Election Guide

With the start of Canada’s Federal Election campaign, the Freedom of Information and Privacy Association (FIPA) has released their 2021 FIPA Election Guide. Taking place during the Covid-19 pandemic, this election will be different from previous ones. “The Pandemic highlighted many long-standing issues in accessing information from public bodies at all levels and in protecting peoples privacy.”  according to […]

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Transparency News Stories RFP

Transparency Spotlight is a searchable table of over 6,500 news stories informed through Access to Information requests. Released this summer FIPA is treating this as a great opportunity to further develop the resource. For that we need your help. FIPA is seeking contributors who can bring their insights and expertise to maintain, develop and expand […]

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A Comparison of Canada’s Private-Sector Privacy Legislation

This document analyzes BC’s Personal Information Protection Act (PIPA) relative to Alberta’s Personal Information Protection Act, Quebec’s Act Respecting the Protection of Personal Information in the Private Sector, and Canada’s Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act. It highlights key differences, provision by provision, in BC’s PIPA relative to other jurisdictions. As it is a side by side analysis of Canada’s private-sector privacy […]

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British Columbians want action on privacy protection: Polling results

FIPA-sponsored poll shows BC wants key reforms to privacy laws   VANCOUVER, June 4, 2020 – Polling results released today indicate that British Columbians want increased public education and enhanced protections to their privacy rights, among other key reforms to privacy laws.   The BC Freedom of Information and Privacy Association (FIPA) commissioned an Ipsos poll, a leading independent market research company, on public opinion […]

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Fallen Behind: Canada’s Access to Information Act in the World Context (2nd Edition)

Stanley Tromp has updated his 2008 book, Fallen Behind: Canada’s Access to Information Act in the World Context. From Stanley Tromp: The first edition of this book in 2008 detailed how Canada’s Access to Information Act had fallen behind the rest of the world’s FOI laws. Since then, the problem has only grown far worse […]

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Election 2019: Comparing Party Platforms

How Canada’s major federal political parties compare on issues related to privacy and access to information The table below uses publicly available information contained within the platforms of Canada’s four major political parties: the Liberal Party, the Conservative Party, the New Democratic Party, and the Green Party. FIPA is a non-partisan organization and this chart […]

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The BC FOI News Story Index

Vancouver, September 26, 2019 – As part of Right to Know Week 2019, Independent journalist Stanley Tromp has published the BC Freedom of Information (FOI) News Story Index. The new resource, which received support from the BC Freedom of Information and Privacy Association, is a database that documents significant news items produced using BC’s FOI […]

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Transparency, Privacy, and the Federal Election

It is election season, and the leaders of Canada’s political parties are making promises, presenting platforms, and answering questions about plans and policies. The next Government of Canada will have to take positions on transparency reform, privacy in a digital age, democracy and Big Data, and the regulation of increasingly-intrusive surveillance practices. We want to […]

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Best Practices in Whistleblower Legislation: An Analysis of Federal and Provincial Legislation Relevant to Disclosures of Wrongdoing in British Columbia

Best Practices in Whistleblower Legislation, prepared by Carroll Anne Boydell, instructor of criminology at Kwantlen Polytechnic University on behalf of the British Columbia Freedom of Information and Privacy Association, compares BC’s new whistleblower legislation, the Public Interest Disclosure Act (PIDA), to international best practices standards. Best practice principles exist for laws, regulations, and procedures aimed […]

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