BC Freedom of Information and Privacy Association
Your Data Your Rights
Statement on Section 22 of Bill 35: FIPPA Reform
From FIPA President Mike Larsen
The introduction of the amendments to B.C.’s Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (FIPPA) contained in section 22 of Bill 35 demonstrate that the government is willing to move forward on legislative reform.
And as the all-party special committee who reviewed the Act in 2016 found in their 39 recommendations, the FIPPA is definitely in need of reform.
But, when it comes to the proposed amendments to the FIPPA contained in Bill 35, the B.C. Freedom of Information and Privacy Association (FIPA) supports the assessment of the Office of the Information and Privacy Commissioner of B.C. (OIPC).
We are firmly committed to the requirements for local data
storage contained within the Act. We do not support amendments to the
legislation that function to erode the protections enshrined in the Act. The
OIPC assessment of the language in section 22 of Bill 35 as “too permissive” is
entirely accurate.
B.C. FIPA is disappointed by the proposed reforms to the
FIPPA for the following reasons:
- The government has made numerous commitments to transparency
and privacy that are not achieved by these amendments. They promised comprehensive
FIPPA reform in their campaign; they have consulted with the public around
FIPPA reform; they have strong recommendations for reform from legislative
review and from current and former Information and Privacy Commissioners.
- We do not support reforms to the Act that weaken
existing privacy protections for British Columbians. The proposed amendments
deal with exceptions to current outside-of-Canada processing and storage
restrictions. To date, this is the only legislative reform that the government
has proposed to the FIPPA. Rather than strengthening freedom of information or
protection of privacy, the proposed amendments is a qualification of existing
rights, and not an expansion.
- We do not need incremental FIPPA reforms through
“Miscellaneous Statute Amendments”. We need a comprehensive overhaul of the
FIPPA that is informed by a deep and sincere commitment to updating and
expanding the information and privacy rights of British Columbians. This
requires vision and leadership.
Despite all of this, the proposed amendments in section 22
of Bill 35 do demonstrate that the government is willing to make reforms to the
FIPPA. In the wake of scandal, the challenge for the government will be to
realize the possibility of these reforms. The proposed amendments for the FIPPA
in Bill 35 are a move that is too little, too late, and in the wrong direction.
The government now has an opportunity to distinguish itself
from previous governments by proposing meaningful reform that further the
information and privacy rights for British Columbians. They have promised
transparency and accountability and it is now time to demonstrate it.
From FIPA President Mike Larsen
The introduction of the amendments to B.C.’s Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (FIPPA) contained in section 22 of Bill 35 demonstrate that the government is willing to move forward on legislative reform.
And as the all-party special committee who reviewed the Act in 2016 found in their 39 recommendations, the FIPPA is definitely in need of reform.
But, when it comes to the proposed amendments to the FIPPA contained in Bill 35, the B.C. Freedom of Information and Privacy Association (FIPA) supports the assessment of the Office of the Information and Privacy Commissioner of B.C. (OIPC).
We are firmly committed to the requirements for local data storage contained within the Act. We do not support amendments to the legislation that function to erode the protections enshrined in the Act. The OIPC assessment of the language in section 22 of Bill 35 as “too permissive” is entirely accurate.
B.C. FIPA is disappointed by the proposed reforms to the FIPPA for the following reasons:
- The government has made numerous commitments to transparency and privacy that are not achieved by these amendments. They promised comprehensive FIPPA reform in their campaign; they have consulted with the public around FIPPA reform; they have strong recommendations for reform from legislative review and from current and former Information and Privacy Commissioners.
- We do not support reforms to the Act that weaken existing privacy protections for British Columbians. The proposed amendments deal with exceptions to current outside-of-Canada processing and storage restrictions. To date, this is the only legislative reform that the government has proposed to the FIPPA. Rather than strengthening freedom of information or protection of privacy, the proposed amendments is a qualification of existing rights, and not an expansion.
- We do not need incremental FIPPA reforms through “Miscellaneous Statute Amendments”. We need a comprehensive overhaul of the FIPPA that is informed by a deep and sincere commitment to updating and expanding the information and privacy rights of British Columbians. This requires vision and leadership.
Despite all of this, the proposed amendments in section 22 of Bill 35 do demonstrate that the government is willing to make reforms to the FIPPA. In the wake of scandal, the challenge for the government will be to realize the possibility of these reforms. The proposed amendments for the FIPPA in Bill 35 are a move that is too little, too late, and in the wrong direction.
The government now has an opportunity to distinguish itself from previous governments by proposing meaningful reform that further the information and privacy rights for British Columbians. They have promised transparency and accountability and it is now time to demonstrate it.