Our goal is to advance Ontarians’ privacy and access rights by working with public institutions to develop bedrock principles and comprehensive governance frameworks for the responsible and accountable deployment of digital technologies.
The Office of the Information and Privacy Commissioner of Ontario (IPC) joined data protection and privacy authorities from more than 130 countries at the 46th Global Privacy Assembly (GPA) to address universal data-related challenges facing all of us around the world.
Held in the Bailiwick of Jersey, Channel Islands, the theme of the 2024 meeting was the power of information. Regulators explored how to respect and balance the power of information with the need for citizens to have power, control, and dignity over their personal information.
The discussion emphasized practical steps regulators and other interested parties can take to help educate, engage and empower young people to protect their digital privacy rights and encourage responsible digital citizenship.
Commissioner Kosseim also participated in a Capacity Building Session on Priority Setting, highlighting the IPC’s strategic plan and the importance of setting strategic priorities to better focus the IPC’s energies and resources on key access and privacy areas where we are likely to have greatest positive impact.
The assembly passed resolutions on key issues such as neurotechnology, data free flow with trust, certification mechanisms, and the rules and procedures of the GPA.
Commissioner Kosseim spoke at the Standing Committee on Justice Policy’s public hearings on Bill 194, the Strengthening Cyber Security and Building Trust in the Public Sector Act, to discuss the IPC’s recommendations on enhancing cyber security, AI guardrails, and privacy protections for children, youth, and the public sector.
In this special episode, we shine a light on the innovative projects submitted by Ontario’s public institutions as part of the IPC’s Transparency Challenge 2.0. Commissioner Kosseim is joined by three inspiring teams who share real-world examples of open government and transparency in action. Steve Orsini and Josh Lovell from the Council of Ontario Universities discuss their open data platform. Mike Melinyshyn and Damien Mainprize from the Town of Innisfil reveal how their technology in public spaces project fosters community engagement through icons and QR codes. Andrea Roberts from the Ontario Ministry of the Environment, Conservation, and Parks explains how the ministry is using creative solutions to accelerate the FOI process and make it easier for the public to access environmental property records.
Celebrate Right to Know Week from September 23 to 29, 2024!
Right to Know Week is celebrated across Canada each year to raise awareness of the importance of access rights and open, transparent government.
From September 23 to 29, the IPC will be sharing a variety of resources about freedom of information, how public institutions can make information more accessible, and how citizens can exercise their right to know!
Canadians can join the conversation about access rights during Right to Know Week by following the #RTK2024 hashtag on Twitter.
IPC submission concerning Bill 194, the Strengthening Cyber Security and Building Trust in the Public Sector Act, focusing on enhancing cyber security, guardrails concerning AI system requirements, and privacy protections for children, youth, and the public sector. The submission provides recommendations concerning the levels of accountability, transparency, and oversight that are needed in a rapidly changing world.
This guidance provides practical advice for public sector organizations to help them identify privacy and transparency considerations when contracting with third party service providers. It includes best practices and recommendations to support proper accountability for records and personal information throughout the procurement process.
Most of us take our government issued ID for granted. If we lose it, it’s a minor inconvenience. But for people experiencing homelessness, not having valid ID or a fixed address to obtain these documents is a much more serious challenge. Robert Fabes of The Ottawa Mission shares insights on the barriers people experiencing homelessness face and how to provide access to essential services while respecting their privacy and dignity.
Patricia Kosseim, Information and Privacy Commissioner of Ontario, issued the following statement in response to the Supreme Court of Canada’s decision that the government does not need to disclose its mandate letters:
"Access rights exist to ensure the public has the information it needs to participate meaningfully in the democratic process and that government institutions remain accountable to the people they serve. The Supreme Court’s decision to allow the Attorney General for Ontario’s appeal from the decision of the Ontario Court of Appeal on the IPC’s Order PO-3973 is an important ruling that clarifies the limits of the public’s right to access government information subject to cabinet confidence. Although Ontarians have the fundamental right to know how their governments are operating, there are limited exemptions from this right of access to protect the government’s legitimate confidentiality interests related to specific types of information. We respect the Supreme Court’s decision and will be considering the significance of this precedent and its broader implications for future cases involving access to cabinet records."
