policy submissions and and letters

policy submissions and and letters


Submission to Consultation on the Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada’s Proposals for ensuring appropriate regulation of artificial intelligence

View full submission here. The context in which we understand privacy is shifting in the current landscape of big data analytics, machine learning, and artificial intelligence. What was generally considered a broad topic with varying normative understandings is now at the forefront of debates and policy work as the varied stakeholders attempt to narrow its […]

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FIPA’s Submission on FIPPA reform

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 […]

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FIPA’s submission on ATIA reform

November 1, 2017 FIPA’s Submission on ATIA reform (Bill C-58) The long-promised Liberal amendments to the Access to Information Act (ATIA) were finally revealed just before Parliament’s summer recess, and the reaction was swift and overwhelmingly negative. Federal Information Commissioner Suzanne Legault (who was not consulted by the government on the proposed legislation) was also […]

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BC FIPA’s Submission on NAFTA Consultation

July 18, 2017 FIPA’s Submission on NAFTA Consultation With the US government’s extremely concerning list of objectives for the upcoming NAFTA negotiations put forth yesterday by the US Trade Representative, BC FIPA has sent Minister Freeland and Global Affairs Canada our submission regarding the dangers facing our information and privacy rights in the coming NAFTA […]

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Reform of the Access to Information Act: Past time for Action

On Wednesday, May 12, 2016, FIPA presented recommendations for reform of the Access to Information Act to the House of Commons Standing Committee on Access to Information, Privacy and Ethics (ETHI) in Ottawa. Download the submission “Given the oft acknowledged and longstanding crisis in the access to information system in this country, it is surprising and disappointing […]

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FIPA submits to Court Services Online consultation

FIPA is highlighting the importance of both the right to privacy and the open court principle in our submission to a consultation the Court Services Online (CSO) system, being held by the Chief Judge of the BC Provincial Court of BC. The open court principle is fundamental in a democratic society, as it allows citizens to scrutinize the workings […]

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Joint Statement: Fix Canada’s broken access to information system

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, […]

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FIPA’s Submission on Bill C-51

FIPA prepared a submission on Bill C-51 to the Standing Committee on Public Safety and National Security, asking the committee to withdraw the bill. Our submission is attached and below. INTRODUCTION FIPA is a non-partisan, non-profit society that was established in 1991 to promote and defend freedom of information and privacy rights in Canada. Our […]

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Submission: Bill S-4

Bill S-4 would amend the Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act (PIPEDA). FIPA calls for political parties to be covered by the law and makes other recommendations. Click here to download FIPA’s submission to the Committee on Industry, Science and Technology on Bill S-4, delivered in Ottawa on March 10, 2015.  

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Submission to the Special Committee to Review the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act

BC FIPA presented our recommendations to the Special Committee to Review the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (FIPPA) on October 16, 2015. Download our written submissions via the links below, or learn more about the Committee and its statutory review of the Act here. Our main written submission Our letter introducing supplementary submissions Supplementary […]

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Submission: Consultation on Open Government Partnership Phase 1 and 2

FIPA’s submission to Phases 1 and 2 of a consultation by the federal government on the government’s initiatives under the Open Government Partnership. We resubmitted our comments from previous consultations, and emphasized again the need to update the Access to Information Act. Download submission

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Submission: Ministry of Finance consultation on FATCA

FIPA’s submission to a consultation by the federal Ministry of Finance on the implementation of the American Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act (FATCA) in Canada. We highlighted the damage this would do to privacy rights as Canadians living in the US, and Americans living in Canada could have their financial information identified for sending to […]

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