BC Freedom of Information and Privacy Association
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20260530 Access and Privacy Online
Your Access and Privacy Online News Summary for Saturday, May 30th.
This week, we begin in Ottawa, where a number of major files moved forward.
The federal government says it will amend parts of its contentious lawful access bill, while civil liberties groups continue warning that Bill C-22 could expand state surveillance without the safeguards Canadians need.
At the same time, senators are studying Bill C-25 — the federal elections bill — with political party privacy once again under scrutiny, especially in light of the Alberta voter data breach.
And in British Columbia, the Bill 9 amendments to the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act have now passed, despite significant opposition and important amendments pushed by MLAs, civil society, and the public.
Then we turn to Alberta, where the breach involving the personal information of nearly three million voters continues to raise questions about political data, foreign influence, and whether similar risks are being created at the federal level.
We also have a packed Ontario spotlight, with stories on freedom-of-information reversals, public protests, flood funding, endangered species records, municipal meeting transparency, domestic violence disclosure laws, and animal research oversight.
And internationally, artificial intelligence, platform accountability, commercial location data, and civil liberties all remain at the centre of fast-moving public policy debates.
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 Voter Privacy.ca
- House of Commons E-Petition
- Voterprivacy.ca
- Information misuse puts you at risk
Network Updates
- Ottawa to amend encryption, metadata elements of contentious lawful access bill
- ICLMG submits a brief to SECU committee opposing state surveillance Bill C-22
- ICLMG testifies against Bill C-9 at Senate committee
- The subject matter of Bill C-25, An Act to amend the Canada Elections Act and to enact An Act to change the names of certain electoral districts, 2026
- Statement by the Privacy Commissioner of Canada to the Standing Senate Committee on Legal and Constitutional Affairs on Bill C-25
- 20260527 Bill 9 After Committee
- 20260528 Bill 9 passes in BC
- Commentary to Follow
Alberta Data Breach
- Editorial: Answers needed on Alberta voter list breach
- TeleMiracle donors could be part of recent data leak
- US Operatives Built a Surveillance App to Target Alberta Separatists
Ontario Access and Privacy Spotlight
- Ford government reverses plan to fight FOI disclosure of blue licence plate documents
- ‘Fight Ford’ rally coming to Georgetown May 30
- Toronto set aside $2M a year for this flood-prone neighbourhood. So far, residents have received less than 3% of it.
- The Green Line – https://thegreenline.to/stories/rockcliffe-no-fault-grant/
- Ontario ministry experts raised concerns about at-risk species law changes, emails show
- South Bruce continues practice of not recording council meetings despite regional trend
- Animal Justice challenges Queen’s stance on dog research after Ontario ban
Canadian Access
- Canadian steel companies pay millions after U.S says they didn’t pay proper tariffs
- Feds working with City of Ottawa to ease public service transit woes: memo
- Memo warned PM of public anxiety about mental health, firearms after B.C. shootings
- Mudge islanders disappointed land use bylaw review to commence after Gabriola OCP review is complete
- Gabriola Sounder – https://soundernews.com/
Canadian Privacy
- National artificial intelligence strategy to be released next week, Carney says
- Bill aims to curb domestic violence
- The Eastern Door – https://easterndoor.com/article/bill-aims-to-curb-domestic-violence
- Court ruling, privacy probe hit separation petition
- Crowsnest Pass Herald – https://passherald.ca/latest-news/court-ruling-privacy-probe-hit-separation-petition
- 1,700 people potentially affected after GNWT hacked
International Access and Privacy
- The Trump administration expands its use of AI in the hunt for healthcare fraud
- San Francisco turns to AI to avoid collisions between ships and whales searching for food
- Brazil’s Lula adds pressure on big techs by increasing their liability for illegal user content
- Lawmakers warn data protection rules don’t protect key sites, including White House and CIA
- Southern Poverty Law Center seeks dismissal of ‘vindictive’ Justice Department indictment
Before we go
- New kits help emergency responders get crucial information
Other FIPA Updates
- Access and Privacy Online in the Classroom
Your Access and Privacy Online News Summary for Saturday, May 30th.
This week, we begin in Ottawa, where a number of major files moved forward.
The federal government says it will amend parts of its contentious lawful access bill, while civil liberties groups continue warning that Bill C-22 could expand state surveillance without the safeguards Canadians need.
At the same time, senators are studying Bill C-25 — the federal elections bill — with political party privacy once again under scrutiny, especially in light of the Alberta voter data breach.
And in British Columbia, the Bill 9 amendments to the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act have now passed, despite significant opposition and important amendments pushed by MLAs, civil society, and the public.
Then we turn to Alberta, where the breach involving the personal information of nearly three million voters continues to raise questions about political data, foreign influence, and whether similar risks are being created at the federal level.
We also have a packed Ontario spotlight, with stories on freedom-of-information reversals, public protests, flood funding, endangered species records, municipal meeting transparency, domestic violence disclosure laws, and animal research oversight.
And internationally, artificial intelligence, platform accountability, commercial location data, and civil liberties all remain at the centre of fast-moving public policy debates.
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 Voter Privacy.ca
- House of Commons E-Petition
- Voterprivacy.ca
- Information misuse puts you at risk
Network Updates
- Ottawa to amend encryption, metadata elements of contentious lawful access bill
- ICLMG submits a brief to SECU committee opposing state surveillance Bill C-22
- ICLMG testifies against Bill C-9 at Senate committee
- The subject matter of Bill C-25, An Act to amend the Canada Elections Act and to enact An Act to change the names of certain electoral districts, 2026
- Statement by the Privacy Commissioner of Canada to the Standing Senate Committee on Legal and Constitutional Affairs on Bill C-25
- 20260527 Bill 9 After Committee
- 20260528 Bill 9 passes in BC
- Commentary to Follow
Alberta Data Breach
- Editorial: Answers needed on Alberta voter list breach
- TeleMiracle donors could be part of recent data leak
- US Operatives Built a Surveillance App to Target Alberta Separatists
Ontario Access and Privacy Spotlight
- Ford government reverses plan to fight FOI disclosure of blue licence plate documents
- ‘Fight Ford’ rally coming to Georgetown May 30
- Toronto set aside $2M a year for this flood-prone neighbourhood. So far, residents have received less than 3% of it.
- The Green Line – https://thegreenline.to/stories/rockcliffe-no-fault-grant/
- Ontario ministry experts raised concerns about at-risk species law changes, emails show
- South Bruce continues practice of not recording council meetings despite regional trend
- Animal Justice challenges Queen’s stance on dog research after Ontario ban
Canadian Access
- Canadian steel companies pay millions after U.S says they didn’t pay proper tariffs
- Feds working with City of Ottawa to ease public service transit woes: memo
- Memo warned PM of public anxiety about mental health, firearms after B.C. shootings
- Mudge islanders disappointed land use bylaw review to commence after Gabriola OCP review is complete
- Gabriola Sounder – https://soundernews.com/
Canadian Privacy
- National artificial intelligence strategy to be released next week, Carney says
- Bill aims to curb domestic violence
- The Eastern Door – https://easterndoor.com/article/bill-aims-to-curb-domestic-violence
- Court ruling, privacy probe hit separation petition
- Crowsnest Pass Herald – https://passherald.ca/latest-news/court-ruling-privacy-probe-hit-separation-petition
- 1,700 people potentially affected after GNWT hacked
International Access and Privacy
- The Trump administration expands its use of AI in the hunt for healthcare fraud
- San Francisco turns to AI to avoid collisions between ships and whales searching for food
- Brazil’s Lula adds pressure on big techs by increasing their liability for illegal user content
- Lawmakers warn data protection rules don’t protect key sites, including White House and CIA
- Southern Poverty Law Center seeks dismissal of ‘vindictive’ Justice Department indictment
Before we go
- New kits help emergency responders get crucial information
Other FIPA Updates
- Access and Privacy Online in the Classroom