Commissioner’s Blog | Information and Privacy Commissioner of Ontario

Information and Privacy Commissioner Patricia Kosseim posing for a photo on a bridge, with trees in the background.

Commissioner’s Blog

Dive into Commissioner Kosseim’s insightful blogs covering privacy, access, cyber safety, and beyond. Stay informed and explore the latest insights.

About the Commissioner

Showing 46 - 54 of 242 results

Commissioner’s Year-End Message: The Great Privacy Conjunction

This certainly wasn’t the year we expected it to be. In 2020, COVID-19 profoundly changed how we work and how we live our day-to-day lives. With science rapidly evolving, infection rates fluctuating, and advisories constantly changing, the pandemic has thrown us many curveballs this past year...

Published on Dec 22, 2020

IPC’s Strategic Priorities: Honing in on Access and Privacy Issues that Matter Most to Ontarians

The shift towards increased digitization since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic is having a profound impact on how Ontarians interact with their governments. It is also changing how public institutions deliver services, either alone or with third-party service providers. This rapid uptake of...

Published on Dec 15, 2020

Incremental but consequential: 2020 changes to PHIPA

Even before joining the IPC, I always admired Ontario’s Personal Health Information Protection Act (PHIPA) for its “gutsiness.” PHIPA introduced many novel concepts for its time. These include the first breach notification requirement in the country; a comprehensive code for consent and substitute...

Published on Dec 3, 2020

Planning together to achieve real positive impact

The digital revolution has brought with it a crushing wave of new access and privacy challenges. By trying to address them all with the limited resources available, we may end up just treading water without really getting anywhere. To achieve real positive change, we need to keep our eyes on the...

Published on Nov 2, 2020

The Color Purple

October is Child Abuse Prevention Month in Ontario, and on Tuesday, October 27, I will be wearing purple to show my support for Dress Purple Day. This day raises awareness of the vital role that individuals and communities play in supporting vulnerable children, youth, and families. Protecting the...

Published on Oct 29, 2020

It’s Cybersecurity Awareness Month: Read Twice, Click Once

News of cyberattacks continues to dominate headlines across the country. From individual instances of identity theft to large-scale ransomware attacks involving millions of people, these malicious assaults on our personal data systems show no sign of abating. As their tactics become more...

Published on Oct 15, 2020

Right to Know Week: Putting access rights in the spotlight

This is my first Right to Know Week as Ontario’s Information and Privacy Commissioner. I am excited to join my fellow commissioners from across the country in raising awareness about access rights and freedom of information from September 28 to October 4. Freedom of information is essential to...

Published on Oct 15, 2020

Back to School … well, sort of

After what some parents have called ‘the longest Spring Break ever,’ September is here, and schools across the province are re-opening their doors, in part. It’s been heartening to see kids smiling from ear to ear, even with their masks on, eager to see their friends and teachers again. The courage...

Published on Oct 15, 2020

Good Governance will be the Key to Delivering on the Promise of Body-Worn Cameras

On Tuesday, August 18, the Toronto Police Service Board approved the purchase of 2350 body worn cameras (BWC) for its front line officers. The board also passed a motion directing the Toronto Police Service (TPS) to consult with the IPC on accountability and privacy measures to be included in its...

Published on Aug 21, 2020

Help us improve our website. Was this page helpful?

Yes

No

How did this page help you?

The information is incorrect or needs to be updated.

The information was too hard to understand.

The information wasn’t relevant.

I didn’t find what I was looking for.

Other

Note:

You will not receive a direct reply. For further enquiries, please contact us at @email
Do not include any personal information, such as your name, social insurance number (SIN), home or business address, any case or files numbers or any personal health information.
For more information about this tool, please see our Privacy Policy.