This article was originally published on The Conversation, an independent and nonprofit source of news, analysis and commentary from academic experts. Disclosure information is available on the original site. ___ Author: Beyhan Farhadi, Assistant Professor, Educational Policy and Equity, University of Toronto Ontario’s recent education budget announced a “back to basics” funding formula, which includes […]

Retailer London Drugs says cybercriminals who stole files from its corporate head office last month have released some of the data after it refused to pay a ransom. The Richmond, B.C.-based company says in a statement the files may contain “some employee information,” calling it a “deeply distressing” situation. London Drugs was responding to a […]

The First Nations Health Authority in B.C. is investigating after being hit by a cybersecurity attack. The health authority, which bills itself as the first and only provincial one of its kind in Canada, says it became aware on May 13 of “unusual activity” on its corporate network. It says an “unauthorize entity” was intercepted […]

In its first three months, Essa Township’s automated speed enforcement (ASE) program — also known as speed cameras — has issued ‘penalty orders’ totalling more than $330,000. While only about half of that amount — $166,000 — has been collected, Essa officials are confident they’ll get it all, at one point or another. “The time […]

Over the past 30 years, the internet has revolutionized the world in ways that few other technologies can boast, perhaps matched only by the introduction of the printing press or steam engine. However, despite the internet being used by 5.5 billion people around the world, few can claim to understand the complex nature of how […]

LAMONT, Alta. — An Alberta health-care worker has been sentenced for taking and sharing photos of long-term care residents, including one that was distorted with a filter. The Lamont Health Care Centre reported the matter to the Office of the Information and Privacy Commissioner, which laid charges last year under the province’s Health Information Act. The […]

How Canada’s major federal political parties compare on issues related to privacy and access to information The table below uses publicly available information contained within the platforms of Canada’s four major political parties: the Liberal Party, the Conservative Party, the New Democratic Party, and the Green Party. FIPA is a non-partisan organization and this chart […]

Vancouver, August 30, 2019 – Yesterday, the Information and Privacy Commissioner for BC, Michael McEvoy, issued an Order stating that BC’s privacy laws apply to the electoral district associations of federal political parties, despite their contestations. The Order affirms that all organizations in BC, including those created by federal political parties, must be held to […]

On this episode of the show, we go back to a time before British Columbia had freedom of information or privacy laws—to the year 1990—and find out what it was like to request information from government. Then, we find out how a small group of dedicated individuals were able to advocate, draft, and ultimately bring […]

By Carlo Javier It was fitting to end Data Privacy Day on Jan. 28 with a talk called Privacy in Peril. Organized by the Vancouver Public Library and the SFU Library, the event saw Mike Larsen of the BC Freedom of Information and Privacy Association (FIPA) and Micheal Vonn of the BC Civil Liberties Association […]

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 […]

One year’s work of research is culminating in the release of “The Connected Car: Who is in the Driver’s Seat?” next week. The full report will be online on Wednesday, March 25th 2015. For a preview article written by Dan Fumano and published in the Vancouver Province, click here.