The Government of Alberta recently introduced Bill 46 that proposes several amendments to Alberta's Health Information Act, and to the legal framework for Electronic Health Records. The provisions of Bill 46 indicate a philosophical shift — from viewing health information as being in the hands of Authorized Custodians, who are permitted to share it under specified … [Read more...] about Alberta OIPC responds to HIA amendments
Legislation
Change is afoot
The federal Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry has indicated that a Government Bill to enact the Consumer Privacy Protection Act and the Personal Information and Data Protection Tribunal Act, and to make consequential and related amendments to other legislation, will be introduced on November 16, 2020. Read More … [Read more...] about Change is afoot
The high cost of affordable auto insurance
In an attempt to drive down soaring auto insurance rates, the Alberta Government recently introduced Bill 41 to modernize the Insurance Act. On its surface, Bill 41 is a valiant effort to provide some relief from high auto insurance rates (although the Bill does not require cost savings to be passed on to consumers). A quick look under its hood is all it … [Read more...] about The high cost of affordable auto insurance
EU-US Data Transfers: The Next Step
In the wake of the recent Court of Justice of the European Union "Schrems II" decision invalidating the EU/US Privacy Shield framework, the US Department of Commerce and the European Commission have initiated discussions to evaluate the potential for an enhanced EU-US Privacy Shield framework. Read the EU Commission Statement … [Read more...] about EU-US Data Transfers: The Next Step
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
