The Government of British Columbia is making more government records available to people without a freedom of information (FOI) request. The records that will now be regularly provided online include: estimates notes prepared for ministers; corporate transition binder prepared for the Premier; transition binders prepared for incoming ministers; deputy … [Read more...] about BC Increases Routine Disclosure
Access/FOI/ATIP
Access at Issue
Canada’s information commissioner has released a highly critical report on the RCMP’s adherence to access-to-information law, and characterizes the RCMP's inability to meet statutory timeframes as "the norm, not an exception." The Commissioner describes the the situation as “critical" and cautions that it "may soon be past the point of no return, unless senior leaders … [Read more...] about Access at Issue
Canada’s new Consumer Privacy Protection Act
In a long-awaited move, Navdeep Bains, Canada’s Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry, introduced Bill C-11 — the Consumer Privacy Protection Act. The Minister described the new law as a significant update of PIPEDA, and acknowledged that the last time Canada’s privacy laws were updated was 20 years ago, when PIPEDA was first introduced — before social media and the … [Read more...] about Canada’s new Consumer Privacy Protection Act
Report: Public Interest Override
The Alberta Information and Privacy Commissioner has released Investigation Report F2020-IR-01 that looks into the use of the “public interest override” provision (section 32) by public bodies under Alberta’s Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act. The report includes an analysis of the public interest override in Alberta, survey results of Alberta public … [Read more...] about Report: Public Interest Override
The dangers of binary thinking and why we shouldn’t have to choose between our rights
The argument that our fundamental rights (access to information, privacy, health, security, freedom of expression) should automatically collide is not new or unique, but it has come up even more often since coronavirus started spreading. Read More … [Read more...] about The dangers of binary thinking and why we shouldn’t have to choose between our rights
FOIP Response Time Triples
As part of the Government of Alberta's response to the COVID-19 pandemic emergency, a Ministerial Order was issued that extends the time for public bodies to respond to requests for information from 30 to 90 days. Read the Ministerial Order … [Read more...] about FOIP Response Time Triples
