BC FIPA presented its submissions to the House of Commons Committee on Access to Information, Privacy and Ethics (ETHI) regarding Information Commissioner Robert Marleau’s 12 reform proposals. FIPA’s view [is] that we now have in this country a consensus that Commissioner Reid’s draft bill, with the addition of full Order making power for the Information […]

BC FIPA has sent a letter to the Prime Minister regarding the Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement (ACTA) to highlight its concerns with the possible implementation of ACTA, such as the impact it could have on the privacy of individuals crossing the border and to urge the government to consult the public before adopting the agreement. Read […]

Ten national organizations including civil liberties, anti-racism, and groups representing immigrants and refugees are calling for the federal government to scrap plans for a “No Fly List” in a joint letter to the House of Commons Standing Committee on Public Safety and National Security. We believe that the [No Fly] List raises grave concerns regarding […]

BC FIPA and the BCCLA have made submissions regarding the statutory review of the Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act (PIPEDA) to the House of Commons Standing Committee on Access to Information, Privacy and Ethics (ETHI). This submission highlights a number of issues which must be addressed in order to ensure that the privacy […]

BC FIPA has made its submission on the Federal Accountability Act, Bill C-2 to the committee reviewing the legislation. BC FIPA offers 10 recommendations regarding the Act, including increasing the powers of the Information Commissioner, expanding the coverage of the Access to Information Act, creating a duty to document, strengthening public interest provisions, increasing protection […]

BC FIPA has presented a list of 11 recommendations regarding reforms to BC’s Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (“the Act”). These recommendations are our top priorities for reform and cover the following issues: increasing routine release; better principles guiding retention and destruction of documents; restoring the coverage of the Act to all […]

BC FIPA endorses most of the recommendations for reform of the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (FOIPP Act) presented in the two reports Enhancing the Province’s Public Sector Access and Privacy Law (Special Committee to Review the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act, 2004) and Privacy and the USA Patriot […]

BC FIPA has provided its comments on Justice Canada’s new Lawful Access proposals. These proposals were announced as part of the government’s consultations on Lawful Access. FIPA continues to be opposed to many of the New Lawful Access Proposals as they unjustifiably intrude upon the privacy rights of Canadian citizens. We repeat the concerns outlined […]

BC FIPA has made its submission regarding the Draft Employment Privacy Guidelines to the Information and Privacy Commissioner of BC today. FIPA is in support of a large part of the Draft Guidelines – on the whole, they are clear, reasonable, and support a meaningful interpretation of the legislation. However, there are also several areas […]

BC FIPA presented its submission to the Information and Privacy Commissioner for BC on the implications for personal information of British Columbia residents involved in outsourcing of government services to U.S.-linked service providers in relation to the USA PATRIOT ACT. In view of section 215 [of the USA PATRIOT ACT], it appears that outsourcing to […]

BC FIPA has proposed revisions to s. 13 of the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act in Response to the Decision in College of Physicians of British Columbia v. British Columbia (Information and Privacy Commissioner) in its submission to the Special Committee to Review the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act […]

Bill 38 is a very good piece of privacy legislation and a breakthrough for privacy rights at the provincial level. BC has shown strong leadership among the provinces in moving forward with a private-sector privacy bill that has real teeth. For this, great credit is due to yourself and also to Chris Norman and Sharon […]