BC Freedom of Information and Privacy Association
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KIRKLAND LAKE – Eyes will be everywhere in a Northern Ontario town as it plans to increase video surveillance at municipal facilities.
Kirkland Lake approved and immediately put into effect a new corporate video surveillance policy at its April 25 meeting. The goal of the policy is to deter and detect crime and antisocial behaviour.
The policy was proposed by clerk Jennifer Montreuil, who told council that various departments and divisions have expressed a desire to either establish or upgrade video surveillance at town facilities to enhance the safety of the public and town staff, as well as to safeguard municipal assets.
There is currently video surveillance at the Joe Mavrinac Community Complex, Civic Park, the Animal Control Building, the Kirkland Lake Airport and the Teck Pioneer Residence. It hasn’t been disclosed where further video surveillance will be established.
The 2024 budget allotted $10,000 for the additional video surveillance and necessary signage.
Next year, the fire department is introducing video surveillance, according to Montreuil’s report. Public works also plans to look into it at the water treatment plant, physical services building and garage and at the landfill.
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“After conducting a privacy impact assessment, which results in avoiding or lessening possible negative effects on privacy that may result from a program or service, I concluded that additional safeguarding measures and enhanced collection and dissemination procedures were also required at the town,” Montreuil said.
“As noted in the report, video surveillance may reduce risk and liability exposure, however, it can also create risks associated with the privacy of individuals.”
The collection, use and disclosure of personal information contained in video surveillance must be compliant with the Municipal Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (MFIPPA), Montreuil said.
“Compliance with that act is overseen by the office of Ontario’s information and Privacy Commissioner,” she said.
“Administration have also identified that through a corporate policy such as the one presented before you this evening, is our ability to ensure compliance with the legislative requirements by streamlining the acquisition and approvals of installing and upgrading video surveillance, as well as most importantly, the data collection that’s done through consistent application and uniformity in a transparent manner.”
The existing surveillance systems in place have been funded by previous operating budgets, Montreuil said.
“Through the adoption of this policy, it is certain that future systems will be established. However, as noted in the report, further information would be supplied to council for those departments and divisions that are currently waiting for those at the establishment of this policy to determine the full scope of their needs and the budgetary requirements,” she said.
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