FIPA has added a new public resource. Transparency Spotlight can be found under the Research and Resources Section. This is a searchable table of over 6,500 news stories informed through Access to Information requests that will be added to and expanded going forward. Transparency Spotlight shows the important role access to information plays in research […]

VANCOUVER, September 17, 2020 – The BC Freedom of Information and Privacy Association (FIPA) has released their latest report Troubling clouds: Gaps affecting privacy protection in British Columbia’s K-12 education system.    “The government is setting the system up for failure.” according to Jason Woywada BC FIPA Executive Director. “Without the resources, guidance and supports they need, teachers, schools, and districts are making the best of a bad situation. The result puts personal information in the system at risk.”  […]

Vancouver, September 2, 2020 – FIPA is encouraged by the report but discouraged by the climate that gave rise to it. The fact that public bodies have been consistently violating the law is deeply concerning and FIPA urges the BC Government to take this report seriously.    “The NDP ran on a platform favouring stronger FOI law in 2017. We haven’t seen them follow through […]

This is the third in our series on the privacy promises we can expect from a Liberal minority government. Information about the Right to Erasure is from Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada’s ‘Digital Charter: Trust in a digital world’, and the Liberal Party of Canada’s election 2019 platform document, ‘Forward: A real plan for the middle […]

Vancouver, October 7, 2019 –  The Premier of British Columbia, John Horgan, announced late Friday that he has accepted the resignation of the Minister of Citizens’ Services, Jinny Sims, due to an ongoing RCMP investigation into her conduct. At this time, precise details into the nature criminal investigation of Minister Sims are unknown. The former […]

We’re calling on the provincial government to keep their promise Earlier this month, we teamed up with the BC Civil Liberties Association and created a petition to encourage the British Columbia government to keep their campaign promise of reforming the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (FIPPA). This Act is as important today […]

This episode continues our story on the history of BC’s Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act by exploring what’s gone wrong since the Act was passed. We begin in the year 1996, when a new NDP government under Premier Glen Clark is taking office in BC. You’ll hear about why former Premier Clark […]

Last November, we published Carroll Anne Boydell’s analysis of BC’s new whistleblower legislation – the Public Interest Disclosure Act (PIDA) – and how it compares to international best practice standards. The study, which is currently available to download from our website, examines different legislations containing protections for whistleblowers who disclose wrongdoing in the province and […]

MEDIA RELEASE November 5, 2018 Statistics Canada Requesting Financial Information of Canadians VANCOUVER, November 5, 2018 – The recent media reports of Statistics Canada seeking to collect the financial information of Canadians in order to build a personal information bank—and the report that Statistics Canada has already received personal financial data from one of Canada’s […]

MEDIA RELEASE October 4, 2018 Recommendations for Canada’s Digital Transformation VANCOUVER, October 4, 2018 – The B.C. Freedom of Information and Privacy Association submitted a paper to the department of Innovation, Science, and Economic Development for their consultation on digital transformation. The national digital and data consultation, including the roundtable discussions that took place across […]

Bill is a significant step in the right direction, but highlights problems with the current Freedom of Information and Privacy Act (FIPPA). On April 25, BC Attorney General David Eby introduced legislation that would create a framework allowing public service employees to disclose serious wrongdoing, and provides general provisions to protect the discloser. The BC […]

MEDIA RELEASE April 27, 2018 BC Government introduces Public Interest Disclosure Act Bill is a significant step in the right direction, but highlights problems with the current Freedom of Information and Privacy Act (FIPPA) VANCOUVER, APRIL 25, 2018 – On April 25, BC Attorney General David Eby introduced legislation that would create a framework allowing […]