BC Freedom of Information and Privacy Association
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The Yukon government has issued a public notice about a break-in where “confidential files” were exposed and cellphones were stolen from the victim services office in Whitehorse.
The statement issued Monday says the Justice Department is “following the appropriate procedures to respond to the privacy breach affecting confidential files that contain sensitive personal information.”
RCMP say they are investigating the break-in, which occurred sometime between last Friday night and Saturday morning.
The statement says the extent to which confidential information may have been compromised is still unclear, while the stolen cellphones have been “disabled.”
The office is closed Monday and Tuesday while staff complete an inventory of records and determine whether any specific people were “particularly affected.”
The notice says staff will reach out to affected individuals in any potential cases where there’s a significant risk of harm due to a file being accessed.
“We deeply regret that this crime will cause serious concerns for members of our community,” Justice Minister Tracy-Anne McPhee says in a statement attached to the notice.
“We are taking steps to ensure the safety of our clients and are actively co-operating with the RCMP’s criminal investigation to determine who is responsible and bring them to justice.”
The notice says the Justice Department will review security protocols and other measures to strengthen the security of information held in victim services offices.
It says files that may have been accessed in the break-in contain people’s names, birth dates, contact information and details about legal proceedings. Some files and stolen cellphones contain additional personal information, it notes.
The notice says officials understand that people who have been affected may have serious concerns about the theft, and staff with victim services will be available to discuss specific concerns and questions.
Staff can help cover the financial cost of changing phone numbers for anyone who is worried about their safety after their information was exposed, it notes.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published March 18, 2024.
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