Your Access and Privacy Online News Summary for Saturday, May 2nd. This week, we begin with a developing voter privacy story out of Alberta.  Elections Alberta says there was no breach of its own systems — but that a copy of the provincial List of Electors, provided to a legitimate political recipient, may have been […]

Your Access and Privacy Online News Summary for Saturday, April 25th. This week, access-to-information rights are under pressure in Ontario and British Columbia, civil society is warning Parliament about Bill C-22, and new Ipsos polling shows Canadians want stronger privacy rules for federal political parties.  We’ll also look at FOI records, AI policy, connected vehicles, and […]

Your Access and Privacy Online News Summary for Saturday, April 18th. This week, we’re tracking a growing surveillance push in Canada — from federal bills that civil liberties advocates warn could expand state access to personal data, to local governments in British Columbia embracing deeper camera-based policing partnerships.  In Alberta, concerns are mounting over political interference in libraries and […]

Your Access and Privacy Online News Summary for Saturday, April 11th. This week, we’re tracking a troubling new phase in the pressure on access and privacy rights across Canada.  In British Columbia, the provincial government has confirmed it is now using artificial intelligence tools in freedom of information processing, even as concerns grow about transparency, accountability and the lack […]

Your Access and Privacy Online News Summary for Saturday, March 28th. This week, Ontario’s government is moving to shield political records from access-to-information laws and it has set up a direct clash with the province’s independent privacy commissioner.  At the federal level, a new bill aimed at protecting Canada’s electoral system is raising early questions — including whether privacy concerns are addressed.   […]

Your Access and Privacy Online News Summary for Saturday, March 21st. This week, we begin with a troubling pattern that has been unfolding across Canada.  What started in British Columbia with Bill 9 is now being echoed elsewhere: governments and political actors chipping away at access-to-information and privacy rights while describing those changes as modernization, […]

Your Access and Privacy Online News Summary for Saturday, March 14th. It’s another busy week across Canada’s privacy and transparency landscape.  We’re tracking a major privacy investigation into Loblaw’s PC Optimum program, new conditions allowing TikTok to keep operating in Canada, and growing concerns about facial recognition and workplace AI surveillance.  And on the transparency front, Canada’s Information Commissioner is warning that […]

Your Access and Privacy Online News Summary for Saturday, March 7th. At the time of posting, Bill C-4 has moved back to the House of Commons with amendments. It is not too late to make your voice heard and for the majority Members of Parliament to do the right thing and put people before their party. We’ll bring you more next […]

Your Access and Privacy Online News Summary for Saturday, February 28th. At the time of posting, Bill C-4 has moved back to the House of Commons with amendments. It is not too late to make your voice heard and for the majority Members of Parliament to do the right thing and put people before their party. We’ll bring you more next […]

Your Access and Privacy Online News Summary for Saturday, February 21st. This week, the Senate delivers a significant report on Bill C-4, Part 4, with a majority of committee members warning that the proposed political party privacy regime falls far short of minimum standards — and recommending that it be removed, severed, or sunset.  We’re also tracking how access-to-information […]

This is a special edition of Access and Privacy Online, bringing you an update on the Senate hearings into Bill C-4, Part 4.  Over the past week, Senators have heard unified testimony from privacy regulators, civil society leaders, and academic experts — all warning that Part 4 weakens Canadians’ privacy rights rather than strengthening them.  Today, we’ll walk through what […]

Your Access and Privacy Online News Summary for Saturday, February 14th. Bill C-4 was the focus of our attention this week. We’ll have a brief update here with links in the show notes and a special edition to come. On top of that policing is under increased privacy and information scrutiny as a sweeping corruption scandal in Toronto has led to charges against eight current and former officers […]