Dec 22 2020
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.
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Dec 15 2020
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 di...
Dec 03 2020
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 s...
Nov 02 2020
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 ...
Oct 29 2020
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 ...
Oct 15 2020
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 sophisti...
Oct 15 2020
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 ...
Oct 15 2020
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...
Aug 21 2020
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 it...
Aug 14 2020
Yesterday, the Ontario government released a discussion paper on improving private sector privacy for Ontarians in a digital age. The government is seeking input from Ontarians on a number of topics that many will recognize as being key ingredients of a modern privacy law in the private sector....