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Joint Resolutions and Statements
Companion Documents:
2. How organizations can help protect young people online
Joint resolution by federal, provincial and territorial privacy commissioners regarding the right to privacy, protection of personal information, and transparency in the digital ecosystem in Canada
HALIFAX - In a joint resolution yesterday, Canada's information and privacy regulators called on their respective governments and other stakeholders to ensure that privacy rights, the protection of personal information, and transparency are fully respected throughout the design, operation, and ongoing evolution of a digital identity ecosystem in Canada. Read more...
Joint Resolution: Ensuring the Right to Privacy and Transparency in the Digital Ecosystem in Canada
Federal, Provincial and Territorial Privacy Commissioners Issue Joint Resolution on Securing Public Trust in Digital Health Communications
HALIFAX - In a joint resolution, Canada's information and privacy regulators call on health sector institutions, health providers, governments, and regulatory colleges to replace traditional fax and unencrypted email with more modern, secure and interoperable digital health communication infrastructure. Read more...
Joint Resolution: Securing Public Trust in Digital Health Communications
Privacy Regulators call for legal framework limiting police use of facial recognition technology
GATINEAU, QC, May 2, 2022 - The heads of Canada's privacy protection authorities today issued a joint statement recommending legislators develop a legal framework that establishes clearly and explicitely the circumstances in which police use of facial recognition may be acceptable. Read more...
Privacy guidance on facial recognition for police agencies
Federal, Provincial and Territorial Information and Privacy Commissioners and Ombudsman Issue Joint Resolution about Privacy and Access to Information Rights During and After a Pandemic
June 2, 2021 - In a joint resolution, Canada's Information and Privacy regulators called on their respective governments to respect Canadians' quasi-constitutional rights to privacy and access to information. The regulators took note of the serious impact the COVID-19 pandemic has had on the right of access to information and privacy rights in Canada and called on governments to use the lessons learned during the pandemic to improve these rights. Read more...
Joint Resolution: Reinforcing Privacy and Access to Information Rights During and After a Pandemic
Vaccine passports must meet highest level of privacy protection
May 19, 2021 - Privacy should be front and centre as governments and businesses consider COVID-19 vaccine passports as a tool to help Canadians return to daily normal life, say Canada's privacy guardians. Read more...
Joint Statement by Federal, Provincial and Territorial Privacy Commissioners: Privacy and COVID-19 Passports
Joint statement by federal, provincial and territorial privacy commissioners regarding the use of contact tracing and similar apps to address covid-19
HALIFAX - In an effort to combat the spread of covid-19, government and public health authorities are looking for novel ways to use technologies to limit the pandemic. One of the tools being considered is contact tracing applications. These tools are not without risks to the right to privacy. The issues contact tracing or similar apps raise must be carefully considered before such tools are implemented. Read more...
Joint Resolution: Supporting public health, building public trust: Privacy principles for contact tracing and similar apps
Atlantic Information and Privacy Commissioners highlight implications of facial recognition technology
HALIFAX - Data Privacy Day or Data Protection Day is recognized on January 28 by provinces and territories across Canada and countries around the world. It is an internationally recognized day dedicated to creating awareness about the importance of protecting personal information. Read more...
Backgrounder: The Facts About Facial Recognition
Canada's access to information and privacy guardians urge governments to modernize legislation to better protect Canadians
GATINEAU, QC - Information and Privacy Ombudspersons and Commissioners from across Canada are urging their governments to modernize access to information and privacy laws. Read more...
Joint Resolution: Effective privacy and access to information legislation in a data driven society
Canada's Access to Information and Privacy Guardians Call for Privacy Regulation and Oversight of Political Parties
REGINA, SK, September 17, 2018 - In a joint resolution, Canada's Information and Privacy Ombudspersons and Commissioners have called on governments to pass legislation requiring political parties to comply with globally recognized privacy principles, to provide Canadians with access to the personal information they hold about them, and to provide for independent oversight to verify and enforce privacy compliance. Read more...
Joint Resolution: Securing Trust and Privacy in Canada's Electoral Process
HALIFAX - Today Nova Scotia's Information and Privacy Commissioner, Catherine Tully, joined with all her federal and provincial colleagues to make a formal submission to the federal government's public consultation on Canada's national security framework.
The submission calls for effective oversight as well as reasonable and proportionate rules for investigating agencies. The ability of the national security aparatus to intrude on Nova Scotian's privacy is significant, and the call for effective safeguards can help protect Nova Scotians' privacy rights.
The submission underscores issues with significant implications for the privacy of Canadians, including the collection and use of metadata by national security agencies as well as law enforcement; encryption; and information sharing by government. It also stresses the importantce of transparency reporting and effective oversight, particularly for institutions not currently subject to expert review. The full submission is available on the website of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada: https://www.priv.gc.ca/en
Read the full submission here: Consultation on Canada's National Security Framework
Information Commissioners call on governments to create a duty to document
March 1, 2016 - Canada's Information Iommissioners have called on their respective governments to create a legislated duty requiring public entities to document matters related to their deliberations, actions and decisions. Read more...
Link to Joint Statement
Link to Backgrounder
Protecting and Promoting Canadians' Privacy and Access Rights in Information Sharing Initiatives
February 23, 2016
CONTEXT
Governments at all levels are seeking to leverage technology, increase information sharing, integrate data and facilitate cross agency sharing of personal information to better serve citizens.
At the same time, there is a concern that increased information sharing may result in more personal information being collected, used or disclosed with little public awareness. Read more...
March 4, 2015
On March 4, 2015, Catherine Tully and other indpendent provincial and territorial privacy commissioners wrote to the Select Standing Committee on Public Safety. They expressed their deep concern about the far reaching implications of Bill C-51 (the Anti-terrorism Act, 2015) for the fundamental rights of Canadians. Read the letter here.
February 18, 2015
Canada's privacy and personal information protection guardians are urging law enforcement agencies across the country to carefully consider the significant risks to privacy before equipping officers with body-worn cameras.
The federal Privacy Commissioner and privacy and personal information protection Ombudspersons and Commissioners in all provinces and territories have today launched a guidance document to help law enforcement agencies develop policies and procedures governing the use of body-worn cameras.
The guidance calls on law enforcement agencies to evaluate whether the expected benefits outweigh the impact on privacy and personal information before introducing a body-worn camera program.
Tje guidance notes that a Privacy Impact Assessment, which can help identify and mitigate the potential risks to privacy and personal information, is a highly recommended best practice before launching a body-worn camera program. As well, law enforcement agencies can consult with data protection experts and undertake a pilot project before deploying the cameras broadly.
Other issues highlighted in the document include:
Public awareness: Law enforcement agencies should inform the public of any new body-worn camera program through local media and other outreach initiatives. As well, during recorded encounters, officers should be required to notify people of recording of images and sound whenever possible.
Guidance for the use of Body-worn Cameras by Law Enforcement Authorities
November 14, 2014
Canada's Access to Information and Privacy Guardians Urge Governments to Better Protect and Promote Rights of Canadians in Digital Era
HALIFAX, November 14, 2014 - Information and Privacy Ombudspersons and Commissioners from across the country are urging federal, provincial and territorial governments to review and modernize their information management practices.
In a joint resolution, Canadia's access to information and privacy guardians said the digital era has brough both tremendous opportunities and new challenges for access and privacy rights. Governments, they say, must show bold leadership now more than ever to ensure the continued relevance of access to information, while still vigilantly protecting the personal information of Canadians.
The resolution was endorsed during the recent annual meeting of Information and Privacy Ombudspersons and Commissioners from federal, provincial and territorial jurisdictions across Canada.
Joint Resolution: Protect and Promote Canadians' Access and Privacy Rights in the Era of Digital Government
October 29, 2014
Statement of the Privacy and Information Commissioners of Canada on National Security and Law Enforcement Measures
OTTAWA - Nova Scotia's Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Review Officer today joined with her Privacy and Information colleagues at their annual meeting to note with sadness last week's events in Sain-Jean-sur-Richelieu, Quebect, and in Ottawa, Ontario. She, and all of Canada's Privacy and Information Commissioners, join their voices to the thousands of Canadians in expressing their condolences to the grieving families and friends of the fallen whose duty it was to defend our rights and freedoms.
To that end, the Privacy and Information Commissioners of Canada call on the federal Government...
October 9, 2013
News Release - Canada's access to information and privacy guardians urge government to modernize laws. English Français
Modernizing Access and Privacy Laws for the 21st Century - Resolution of Canada's Privacy Commissioners and Privacy Oversight Officials. English Français
September 1, 2010
News Release - Access to Information and Privacy Commissioners Call for Open Government
