Canadians are being asked for their input on proposed legislation that would strengthen safeguards against identity theft and include measures aimed at helping victims of such crimes. The Consumers Measures Committee, a committee comprised of federal, provincial, and territorial consumer protection representatives, has launched a public consultation on identity theft. The background paper identifies several […]

The level of concern and demand for consent on cross-border sharing of personal information is extremely high amongst Canadians, according to an EKOS Research Associates survey commissioned by the Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada. Approximately 90 percent of Canadians surveyed wish to not only be informed but insist on governments and the private […]

Canada’s Privacy Commissioner has launched an examination of the cross-border flow of personal information hastened by the war on terror. The commissioner’s first-ever such audit will focus on information about Canadians that’s being sent to United States security agencies via the Canadian Border Services Agency. Read the Ottawa Citizen article

FIPA has joined with 83 other Civil liberties groups in the “International Campaign against Mass Surveillance”. The campaign is calling on countries around the globe to rein in the growing number of “intrusive and discriminatory measures” that profile, monitor and track individuals in the name of fighting terrorism. Citizens and groups around the world are […]

A recently disclosed privacy breach at giant US-based information broker Choicepoint points out the need for a new law in Canada to help protect potential victims of identity theft, say two consumer and privacy advocacy groups — the Canadian Canadian Internet Policy and Public Interest Clinic (CIPPIC) and the Public Interest Advocacy Centre (PIAC). Choicepoint […]

Ottawa, January 27, 2005 – The Privacy Commissioner of Canada, Jennifer Stoddart, is pleased to announce that the Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada (OPC) is awarding $49,775, under its Contributions Program, to the British Columbia Freedom of Information and Privacy Association (FIPA) for a special study on identity theft. “The theft of personal […]

OTTAWA (Reuters) – Canadian families could soon enjoy a measure of peace and quiet at dinner time as the result of legislation introduced on Monday to limit the right of telemarketers to make unsolicited calls. The new legislation would pave the way for a national do-not-call list, matching popular registries in the United States and […]

Lindsay Kines and Jeff Rud Times Colonist The USA Patriot Act poses a greater risk to Canadians’ personal information than earlier stated by the B.C. government, the province’s information and privacy commissioner said Friday. David Loukidelis praised government for toughening B.C.’s privacy law, but said it needs to go further to prevent the FBI from […]

The US-based Maximus corporation, a subsidiary of which is poised to take over the administration of BC Medical Services Plan and PharmaCare, has publicly stated on its website that it’s an “…outreach company for homeland security [Act] information sharing.” This revelation has amplified the privacy concerns of groups opposed to the imminent contract. [IMPORTANT UPDATE: […]

A diverse and growing group of rights, health, union and other organizations has launched a province-wide campaign to demand that the BC government drop its proposed deal with the Maximus corporation because of the privacy implications of the USA PATRIOT Act. The Right to Privacy Campaign believes that contracting out the administrative functions of BC’s […]

BC Privacy Commissioner David Loukidelis has launched a public process to review the impact of the U.S. Patriot Act on government plans to contract out the Medical Services Plan (MSP) to an American company. He has called for submissions from American and Canadian experts and the general public and expects to issue his report by […]

FIPA is applauding the final report of a Special Committee of the BC Legislature that has completed a six-year review of the province’s Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act. The committee’s report, “Enhancing the Province’s Public Sector Access and Privacy Law”, makes 26 recommendations to improve each of the 6 parts of the […]