BC Freedom of Information and Privacy Association
Your Data Your Rights
20260117 Access and Privacy Online
Your Access and Privacy Online News Summary for Saturday, January 17th.
We’re starting the year with a heavy focus on access to information, and what happens when transparency fails, or is actively resisted. This week, access requests uncover troubling gaps in domestic-violence prosecutions in Nunavut, reveal why a Parks Canada boat ban blindsided communities in Manitoba, and expose how billions of public dollars tied to Brampton’s electric-bus plans remain almost entirely redacted.
We’ll also look at growing privacy concerns—from Manitoba’s new digital ID wallet to failures in protecting tenants’ personal information—and whistleblower-driven stories involving police misconduct and university governance.
Then, we turn south, where the Trump administration is again testing the limits of federal power—using funding threats, data demands, and political pressure in ways that raise serious privacy and democratic concerns.
And finally, from CES, a cautionary look at how AI-powered consumer devices are collecting more personal data than ever—often with little oversight.
A quick reminder: Bill C-4 is moving to second reading in the Senate. It’s not too late to contact committee members or your Member of Parliament. We hope many of our listeners would agree, political parties shouldn’t be allowed to have the lowest privacy standards in the country.
Be sure to follow the links in the show notes to let them know.
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
FIPA Bill C-4
- UPDATED Call to Action
- FIPA Bill C-4 Part 4 Dashboard
- Bill C-4 Part 4 line-by-line and brief
Late Week Release
- Privacy Commissioner of Canada expands investigation into social media platform X following reports of AI-generated sexualized deepfake images
- City of Richmond ordered to remove surveillance cameras at key intersection
- Letter to Minister Gibson Re: Investigation of City of Richmond’s Public Safety Camera System
- Public sector surveillance guidelines
Canadian Access to Information
- Domestic violence convictions falling in Nunavut, but explanation lacking
- Manitoba shelves plans for teacher exchange program
- Preclearance operations in Canada are a ‘critical component’ of border strategy: U.S.
- RCAF wants more than 1,200 security personnel to protect F-35s, other planes
- RCAF commander reports progress on filling recruitment, retention gaps
- Parks Canada eyed boat-ban pros and cons
- Ontario First Nation says Ottawa still slow to act after 18 years of water issues
- Canada’s National Observer – https://www.nationalobserver.com/2026/01/08/news/ontario-first-nation-unsafe-water-government
- Recall campaign raises concerns over access to city facilities
- REDACTED: City of Brampton’s $4-billion electric bus deal leaves taxpayers completely in the dark
Canadian Privacy Personal Information and Whistleblowers
- Manitoba government’s new digital wallet offers storage of personal data
- ‘Institutional failure’: MUNL student, faculty unions respond to Delores Mullings’ departure
- ‘There’s no heat, no hot water’: Tense exchange between Brampton councillor and corporate landlord underscores the plight of city’s renters
- Building Resilient Communities: Celebrating 55 Years of Impact with Barons-Eureka-Warner FCSS
- The Taber Times – https://tabertimes.com/
- Regrettable’: Winnipeg officer apologizes for taking photo of body, selling drugs
- Free-to-use Calgary startup Foqos aims to build healthy phone habits
- Iqaluit lawyer takes Nunavut’s legal services board to court
Trump Affect
- Tennessee university reinstates professor fired for Charlie Kirk post and settles for $500k
- FTC seeks info from 20 universities with Division I sports into whether agents are following law
- Officials withheld evidence on Florida’s ‘Alligator Alcatraz’ funding, environmental groups say
- Trump threatens to halt federal money next month not only to sanctuary cities but also their states
- What to know as Trump targets child care and social service funding to 5 states led by Democrats
- Colorado AG accuses Trump of ‘revenge campaign’ for state refusal to free convicted elections clerk
- A $400,000 payout after Maduro’s capture is putting prediction markets in the spotlight
- Justice Department sues Connecticut and Arizona as part of effort to get voter data from the states
- Colorado appeals panel skeptical of sentencing for former county clerk who breached election systems
2026 Consumer Electronics Show
- Worst in Show’ CES products include AI refrigerators, AI companions and AI doorbells
Your Access and Privacy Online News Summary for Saturday, January 17th.
We’re starting the year with a heavy focus on access to information, and what happens when transparency fails, or is actively resisted. This week, access requests uncover troubling gaps in domestic-violence prosecutions in Nunavut, reveal why a Parks Canada boat ban blindsided communities in Manitoba, and expose how billions of public dollars tied to Brampton’s electric-bus plans remain almost entirely redacted.
We’ll also look at growing privacy concerns—from Manitoba’s new digital ID wallet to failures in protecting tenants’ personal information—and whistleblower-driven stories involving police misconduct and university governance.
Then, we turn south, where the Trump administration is again testing the limits of federal power—using funding threats, data demands, and political pressure in ways that raise serious privacy and democratic concerns.
And finally, from CES, a cautionary look at how AI-powered consumer devices are collecting more personal data than ever—often with little oversight.
A quick reminder: Bill C-4 is moving to second reading in the Senate. It’s not too late to contact committee members or your Member of Parliament. We hope many of our listeners would agree, political parties shouldn’t be allowed to have the lowest privacy standards in the country.
Be sure to follow the links in the show notes to let them know.
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
FIPA Bill C-4
- UPDATED Call to Action
- FIPA Bill C-4 Part 4 Dashboard
- Bill C-4 Part 4 line-by-line and brief
Late Week Release
- Privacy Commissioner of Canada expands investigation into social media platform X following reports of AI-generated sexualized deepfake images
- City of Richmond ordered to remove surveillance cameras at key intersection
- Letter to Minister Gibson Re: Investigation of City of Richmond’s Public Safety Camera System
- Public sector surveillance guidelines
Canadian Access to Information
- Domestic violence convictions falling in Nunavut, but explanation lacking
- Manitoba shelves plans for teacher exchange program
- Preclearance operations in Canada are a ‘critical component’ of border strategy: U.S.
- RCAF wants more than 1,200 security personnel to protect F-35s, other planes
- RCAF commander reports progress on filling recruitment, retention gaps
- Parks Canada eyed boat-ban pros and cons
- Ontario First Nation says Ottawa still slow to act after 18 years of water issues
- Canada’s National Observer – https://www.nationalobserver.com/2026/01/08/news/ontario-first-nation-unsafe-water-government
- Recall campaign raises concerns over access to city facilities
- REDACTED: City of Brampton’s $4-billion electric bus deal leaves taxpayers completely in the dark
Canadian Privacy Personal Information and Whistleblowers
- Manitoba government’s new digital wallet offers storage of personal data
- ‘Institutional failure’: MUNL student, faculty unions respond to Delores Mullings’ departure
- ‘There’s no heat, no hot water’: Tense exchange between Brampton councillor and corporate landlord underscores the plight of city’s renters
- Building Resilient Communities: Celebrating 55 Years of Impact with Barons-Eureka-Warner FCSS
- The Taber Times – https://tabertimes.com/
- Regrettable’: Winnipeg officer apologizes for taking photo of body, selling drugs
- Free-to-use Calgary startup Foqos aims to build healthy phone habits
- Iqaluit lawyer takes Nunavut’s legal services board to court
Trump Affect
- Tennessee university reinstates professor fired for Charlie Kirk post and settles for $500k
- FTC seeks info from 20 universities with Division I sports into whether agents are following law
- Officials withheld evidence on Florida’s ‘Alligator Alcatraz’ funding, environmental groups say
- Trump threatens to halt federal money next month not only to sanctuary cities but also their states
- What to know as Trump targets child care and social service funding to 5 states led by Democrats
- Colorado AG accuses Trump of ‘revenge campaign’ for state refusal to free convicted elections clerk
- A $400,000 payout after Maduro’s capture is putting prediction markets in the spotlight
- Justice Department sues Connecticut and Arizona as part of effort to get voter data from the states
- Colorado appeals panel skeptical of sentencing for former county clerk who breached election systems
2026 Consumer Electronics Show
- Worst in Show’ CES products include AI refrigerators, AI companions and AI doorbells