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
Privacy
Alberta OIPC responds to HIA amendments
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
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
Commissioners agree with PACC that facial recognition without meaningful consent is problematic
In late July of 2018, an observant shopper at Calgary’s Chinook Centre mall saw an electronic wayfinding directory displaying computer code suggesting that facial recognition technology was being used in the display boards. Days later, PACC asked the Privacy Commissioner of Canada and the Information and Privacy Commissioner of Alberta to investigate and determine … [Read more...] about Commissioners agree with PACC that facial recognition without meaningful consent is problematic
The perils of privacy breaches by hospital employees
Canadian privacy laws contain a basic safeguarding principle: access to personal information may only be granted on a need-to-know basis. Snooping violates that principle. Several Ontario arbitrators have upheld a “zero tolerance” approach for #privacy breaches at hospitals, holding that summary dismissal is the appropriate remedy for deliberate breaches of … [Read more...] about The perils of privacy breaches by hospital employees
