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Federal, provincial, territorial information and privacy commissioners and ombuds wrap up successful annual meeting
TORONTO, ON (October 10, 2024) - Today, federal, provincial, and territorial (FPT) information and privacy commissioners and ombuds concluded two days of productive discussions on privacy and access to information issues across Canada. The annual event, hosted this year by the Information and Privacy Commissioner of Ontario, was a significant opportunity to address key issues, enhance collaboration among jurisidictions, and reaffirm a shared committment to protecting the access and privacy rights of all Canadians. Read more...
Information and Privacy Commissioner releases Review Report 24-15
The applicant made a request to the Halifax Regional Centre for Education (public body) for records related to both provincial and individual school assessment results in literacy and math over a five-year period. The applicant also requested a list of which schools the public body deemed as "priority schools", the criteria used to deem a school as "priority" and records showing how funding was allocated to priority schools. The public body applied s. 18(1)(a) (health and safety) and s. 20 (personal information) of the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act to withhold the responsive record in full. The Commissioner finds that s. 18(1)(a) does not apply and so the record cannot be withheld under that section. Regarding s. 20, the Commissioner finds that after balancing all relevant circumstances, disclosure of the withheld record would not be an unreasonable invasion of any third party's privacy. The Commissioner recommends the withheld record be released in full to the applicant. Read more...
Information and Privacy Commissioner releases Review Report 24-14
An applicant asked the Department of Justice (public body) for information about adult offenders from the public body's Justice Enterprise Information Network (JEIN). In response, the public body partially disclosed the requested records to the applicant but withheld some of the information in them pursuant to s. 20 (personal information) of the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (FOIPOP). The Commissioner finds that the information withheld under s. 20 does not qualify as the personal information of an identifiable third party and so recommends its disclosure. Read more...
Information and Privacy Commissioner releases Review Report 24-13
The Department of Finance and Treasury Board (public body) did not issue a decision to the applicant in response to an access to information request within the legislated time period required by the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (FOIPOP). The cause of the delay was related to the public body's search actions. The applicant appealed to the Office of the Information and Privacy Commissioner. The Commissioner finds that the public body is in contravention of s. 7 of FOIPOP and recommends that a decision be issued to the applicant and any third parties notified under s. 22 of FOIPOP within 45 days of the date of this review report. Read more...
NEWS RELEASE
For immediate release
June 20, 2024
Nova Scotia's Information and Privacy Commissioner releases 2023-2024 Annual Report
HALIFAX - Today, Tricia Ralph, Nova Scotia's Information and Privacy Commissioner, released her annual report for 2023-2024. Read more...
NEWS RELEASE
For immediate release
February 1, 2024
Information and Privacy Commissioner publishes submission for the legislative review of Nova Scotia's access and privacy laws
HALIFAX - Information and Privacy Commissioner Tricia Ralph has provided her submission to the internal working group reviewing Nova Scotia's access and privacy laws. Read more...
Legislative Review Submission
Companion Reports:
Department of Justice mandate includes amendment to Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act
Premier Houston's September 14, 2021 mandate letter to the Attorney General and Minister of Justice includes a requirement to amend the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (FOIPOP) to give order-making ability to Nova Scotia's Information and Privacy Commissioner: September 14, 2021 Ministerial Mandate - Department of Justice and Attorney General
The Office of the Information and Privacy Commissioner is willing to provide input and guidance to the government as it moves ahead with this amendment to FOIPOP, or any other important amendments the OIPC has recommended to modernize Nova Scotia's outdated access to information and privacy laws.
New/Updated Publications Now Available
The OIPC's Role - What the OIPC Can and Cannot Do
Protecting Patient Information in Practice and Beyond
Need-to-Know Instead of Circle of Care
Know Your Rights: Missing Records?
Tips for Addressing Employee Snooping
