BC Freedom of Information and Privacy Association
Your Data Your Rights
20251108 Access and Privacy Online
This is your Access and Privacy News Summary for Saturday, November 8th.
It’s a big week in Ottawa — Information and Privacy Commissioners from across Canada have issued a joint resolution calling on governments to protect democracy through stronger access and information management.
We’ll also look at how access-to-information laws continue to shed light on federal decision-making, from foreign aid to digital sovereignty.
Then, in our Local Journalism Initiative round-up, we have access, accountability, and transparency stories across the country, from New Brunswick hospitals and Quebec’s non-profit cybersecurity efforts to Ontario’s autism program and a GM plant controversy in St. Catharines.
And internationally, new stories on privacy breaches, ransomware, and AI oversight — including a global doping scandal, the shutdown of a U.S. tax-filing system, and new moves to confront risks from artificial intelligence.
Also available through: PodBean, Apple iTunes, YouTube, Spotify, Amazon Music, iHeartRadio, PlayerFM, ListenNotes, Podchaser, Boomplay.
Writing: Shaun Fisk | Production: Patrick Farnsworth | Music: Breakmaster Cylinder
Send comments to: FIPAOnline @ fipa.bc.ca
You can support these efforts by subscribing or donating.
Full Show Links
Joint Communique
- Canada’s information regulators call on their respective governments to promote a more robust information ecosystem
- Trust, transparency, and democracy in an era of misinformation
Canadian Federal Reports
- Government expects fewer questions on foreign aid from weakened NDP: briefing note
- Ottawa to restore accidentally deleted privacy provision in streaming bill
- PM Carney was advised to push back on Trump if provoked in April call, memo shows
- Over 5,000 researchers oppose order to share 25 years of federal grant applicant data
- Data stored in Canada can be subject to foreign courts, government paper warns
- Researchers find gaps in environmental impact assessments of mining projects
- Chief of defence staff offers apology for military’s history of racial discrimination
Provincial Reports
- Health critic asks if fire marshal fined hospitals for overcrowding
- Helping Quebec non-profits below ‘cybersecurity poverty line’ strengthen networks
- Wait for core Ontario autism services tops 5 years: advocates
- ‘The City has the power and refuses to use it,’: St. Catharines Mayor Mat Siscoe misleads public about GM site
- https://fipa.bc.ca/nm/the-city-has-the-power-and-refuses-to-use-it-st-catharines-mayor-mat-siscoe-misleads-public-about-gm-site/
- The Pointer – https://thepointer.com/article/2025-10-31/the-city-has-the-power-and-refuses-to-use-it-meanwhile-we-residents-live-with-the-toxic-mess-st-catharines-mayor-mat-siscoe-misleads-residents-about-gm-site
- North Perth seeking public input regarding new water storage for local communities
- Trustees want say in school zone redesign
International Reports
- IRS Direct File won’t be available next year. Here’s what that means for taxpayers
- Nevada ransomware attack started months before it was discovered, per report
- Cyberattack on Marks & Spencer slices profits by more than a half
- William and Kate win privacy case against French magazine over family holiday photos
- Officials arrest man who allegedly promised to get weapons for attack on Jewish targets in Germany
- WADA launches ‘Operation Puncture’ to investigate leak about Chinese swimmers’ doping tests
Cyber Security an AI
- Be Cyber Secure All Year Long
- Afraid of scams? Help is here
- https://fipa.bc.ca/nm/afraid-of-scams-help-is-here/
- Drayton Valley and District Free Press – https://www.dvfreepress.com/
- How AI is challenging the credibility of some online courses
- Who is Zico Kolter? A professor leads OpenAI safety panel with power to halt unsafe AI releases
FIPA Update
- FIPA Bill C-4 Part 4 Dashboard
- Bill C-4 Part 4 line-by-line and brief
To Protect your rights, ask MPs to:
- Stop Bill C-2
- Amend Bill C-4
This is your Access and Privacy News Summary for Saturday, November 8th.
It’s a big week in Ottawa — Information and Privacy Commissioners from across Canada have issued a joint resolution calling on governments to protect democracy through stronger access and information management.
We’ll also look at how access-to-information laws continue to shed light on federal decision-making, from foreign aid to digital sovereignty.
Then, in our Local Journalism Initiative round-up, we have access, accountability, and transparency stories across the country, from New Brunswick hospitals and Quebec’s non-profit cybersecurity efforts to Ontario’s autism program and a GM plant controversy in St. Catharines.
And internationally, new stories on privacy breaches, ransomware, and AI oversight — including a global doping scandal, the shutdown of a U.S. tax-filing system, and new moves to confront risks from artificial intelligence.
Also available through: PodBean, Apple iTunes, YouTube, Spotify, Amazon Music, iHeartRadio, PlayerFM, ListenNotes, Podchaser, Boomplay.
Writing: Shaun Fisk | Production: Patrick Farnsworth | Music: Breakmaster Cylinder
Send comments to: FIPAOnline @ fipa.bc.ca
You can support these efforts by subscribing or donating.
Full Show Links
Joint Communique
- Canada’s information regulators call on their respective governments to promote a more robust information ecosystem
- Trust, transparency, and democracy in an era of misinformation
Canadian Federal Reports
- Government expects fewer questions on foreign aid from weakened NDP: briefing note
- Ottawa to restore accidentally deleted privacy provision in streaming bill
- PM Carney was advised to push back on Trump if provoked in April call, memo shows
- Over 5,000 researchers oppose order to share 25 years of federal grant applicant data
- Data stored in Canada can be subject to foreign courts, government paper warns
- Researchers find gaps in environmental impact assessments of mining projects
- Chief of defence staff offers apology for military’s history of racial discrimination
Provincial Reports
- Health critic asks if fire marshal fined hospitals for overcrowding
- Helping Quebec non-profits below ‘cybersecurity poverty line’ strengthen networks
- Wait for core Ontario autism services tops 5 years: advocates
- ‘The City has the power and refuses to use it,’: St. Catharines Mayor Mat Siscoe misleads public about GM site
- https://fipa.bc.ca/nm/the-city-has-the-power-and-refuses-to-use-it-st-catharines-mayor-mat-siscoe-misleads-public-about-gm-site/
- The Pointer – https://thepointer.com/article/2025-10-31/the-city-has-the-power-and-refuses-to-use-it-meanwhile-we-residents-live-with-the-toxic-mess-st-catharines-mayor-mat-siscoe-misleads-residents-about-gm-site
- North Perth seeking public input regarding new water storage for local communities
- Trustees want say in school zone redesign
International Reports
- IRS Direct File won’t be available next year. Here’s what that means for taxpayers
- Nevada ransomware attack started months before it was discovered, per report
- Cyberattack on Marks & Spencer slices profits by more than a half
- William and Kate win privacy case against French magazine over family holiday photos
- Officials arrest man who allegedly promised to get weapons for attack on Jewish targets in Germany
- WADA launches ‘Operation Puncture’ to investigate leak about Chinese swimmers’ doping tests
Cyber Security an AI
- Be Cyber Secure All Year Long
- Afraid of scams? Help is here
- https://fipa.bc.ca/nm/afraid-of-scams-help-is-here/
- Drayton Valley and District Free Press – https://www.dvfreepress.com/
- How AI is challenging the credibility of some online courses
- Who is Zico Kolter? A professor leads OpenAI safety panel with power to halt unsafe AI releases
FIPA Update
- FIPA Bill C-4 Part 4 Dashboard
- Bill C-4 Part 4 line-by-line and brief
To Protect your rights, ask MPs to:
- Stop Bill C-2
- Amend Bill C-4