How the government’s action regarding the long-overdue FIPPA reform reflects our collective attitudes towards political issues By Carlo Javier We have an interesting relationship with our rights – especially those dealing with our freedom to access information and privacy. On one hand, conversations around such issues have certainly become more welcome in the general Canadian […]

FIPA’s submission on FIPPA reform FIPA has been busy the past few months pushing for Freedom of Information and privacy reform. During this time, we ramped up pressure on the new government with our Ipsos poll and a joint letter sent to Premier John Horgan pushing for information rights reform. In response, the BC Ministry of Citizens’ Services has […]

Exciting news! The BC Ministry of Citizens’ Services has launched a public consultation on freedom of information and privacy rights in BC, and we need your help! Here’s your chance to voice your thoughts, concerns or ideas for change. Help us put an end to record destruction, failure to create records, FOI loopholes, and other […]

Earlier today we sent a joint letter to Premier John Horgan supporting Freedom of Information and privacy reform, and offering our help to bring this about. The text of the letter, signed by a number of well-known groups and individuals, is set out below. See here for the PDF copy.   February 22, 2018 The […]

With the provincial election campaign underway, we believe it is important to know where the leaders of BC’s three leading political parties stand on important Freedom of Information and privacy issues. Like we have done during previous elections, FIPA sent a series of questions on Freedom of Information and privacy issues to the BC Liberals, […]

NEWS RELEASE JANUARY 19, 2017   BC government claims it has no records related to Carney speech about Vancouver real estate market  FIPA asks Information Commissioner to investigate Yet another incredible ‘no responsive records’ response to a FIPA FOI request FIPA has filed a complaint with the Acting BC Information and Privacy Commissioner after the […]

On January 18, 2017 FIPA filed a complaint with the Office of the Information and Privacy Commissioner of BC relating to the BC Ministry of Finance’s failure to locate and provide records on Mark Carney’s speech on Vancouver’s real estate market in 2011. The Ministry’s response was due January 10, 2017, but it was delayed until January […]

The following is a joint statement sent to Canada’s major federal parties, and signed by FIPA alongside a number of other organizations interested in improving Canada’s access to information system. Read on to learn more, or read the press release at cjfe.org. The deficit of trust between Canada’s voters and its elected officials has never been higher, […]

Many questions remain after Commissioner addresses FOI complaint relating to controversial Ministry of Health firings VANCOUVER, September 10, 2015 – The BC Freedom of Information and Privacy Association (FIPA) is raising concerns that RCMP or other files could be left open indefinitely, thereby avoiding requests under the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act. […]

In the April issue of the Bulletin, we described our complaint about the B.C. Government’s odd excuse for failing to post two embarrassing reports online: they claimed that they were simply complying with the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (FIPPA). In response to our complaint, the Office of the B.C. Information and […]

As Canadians prepare to vote in the upcoming federal election, we at FIPA are working to determine where political parties stand on key access to information issues. Together with Newspapers Canada and the Canadian Taxpayers Federation, we’ll be asking parties to describe what they will do to repair and improve transparency policies and practices, and […]

Information Commissioner says other ministries should also look for information that must be released in public interest VANCOUVER, July 2, 2015 – In a major report released this morning, Information and Privacy Commissioner Elizabeth Denham has gone beyond simply telling the BC Government to re-examine its files for information to be released surrounding the Mount […]