EVENT ANNOUNCEMENT

PRIVACY AND PUBLIC SAFETY: A PROGRESS REPORT

Whether the issue is police record checks, street checks or body-worn cameras, new technologies and new ways of collecting and sharing personal information are having a substantial impact on privacy. These issues have sparked intense public debate about the collection, retention and disclosure of information by police services. The public discourse has led to significant progress in the protection of Ontarians’ privacy, but there is still more work to be done to find the appropriate balance between public safety and privacy.

We invite you to join us in-person or via webcast for a Privacy Day symposium which will examine this progress and look at the essential next steps that need to be taken to both protect privacy rights and ensure public safety. This event will include a feature presentation by the Commissioner and a panel discussion among privacy, human rights and public safety experts on the most pressing topics.

Date: Thursday, January 28, 2016
Time: 9:00 to 11:30 a.m.
Location: Epic Hall, Toronto Reference Library, 789 Yonge Street, Toronto

This is a free event, but we kindly ask that you register to attend or watch.

October 28, 2015
Markham NHL arena was on thin ice from the beginning, newly released documents show
Toronto Star

October 28, 2015
Ontario unveils draft regulations to ban police carding
Globe and Mail

October 31, 2015
LCBO spent over $250,000 fighting order to destroy wine, beer and spirit club members’ private information
Ottawa Citizen

November 2, 2015
Ontario hospital loses bid to quash class action invasion of privacy lawsuit
Canadian Underwriter

November 23, 2015
Hospital clerk fined $36,000 for selling patient records
Toronto Star

UPDATED PHIPA RESOURCES NOW AVAILABLE

To ensure the IPC is sharing the most up-to-date information relating to health privacy, we have undertaken a review of our entire catalogue of Personal Health Information Protection Act (PHIPA) publications. The first publication revised was our Circle of Care document, which was given a thorough review and in which we introduced gender-neutral language. We have also updated the popular PHIPA FAQ with a new look and feel and rewritten it with clearer, easy to understand language. The FAQ also includes new material such as: questions on assumed implied consent and consent from children under 16, breach notification requirements, requirements in the event of a change of practice, emergency disclosure, obtaining health records of a deceased individual, disclosure of personal health information outside of Ontario and fees for access requests. Our most recent update was the FAQ on Health Cards and Health Numbers, which explains the use of health cards for proof of identity, and clarifies who may collect, use or disclose health numbers.

Additionally, we have launched a new and major program called Frontline #HealthPrivacy, which aims to establish an online community for frontline health care workers and students by providing a platform for dialogue on their duties and obligations under PHIPA. This program will offer a steady flow of information and resources, adapting to the changing landscape of health care and adopting digital technologies to stay in touch with its audiences. In the coming months we’ll use Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn and YouTube to share blog posts, podcasts and webcasts created with frontline health care workers in mind. We hope you’ll join the conversation.

December 6-9, 2015
37th Annual COGEL Conference
Council on Governmental Ethics Laws

December 10, 2015
SOAR/Osgoode Certificate in Adjudication for Administrative Agencies, Boards and Tribunals
Osgoode Professional Development

April 29, 2016
2015 CSOT Conference
Canadian Society of Orthopaedic Technologists

2015 STATISTICAL REPORTING WEBSITE IS NOW OPEN!

The IPC’s Online Statistics Submission Website is now open for institutions to input their year-end statistical report. The deadline for reporting is Monday, February 29, 2016.

Our office is required to make an annual report to the Speaker of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario. This report provides a comprehensive review of the effectiveness of the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (FIPPA) and Municipal Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (MFIPPA) in providing access to information and protecting personal privacy, as well as the exercise of the Commissioner’s powers and duties under the Personal Health Information Protection Act (PHIPA).

Institutions covered under FIPPA, MFIPPA and/or PHIPA are required to submit an online report to the IPC, even if they have not received any freedom of information requests during the calendar year.

Visit our website for helpful resources, including our Frequently Asked Questions: FIPPA and MFIPPA Statistical Report.

September 9, 2015
MO-3239 – The IPC does not uphold police services’ decision to deny access to records-check info and orders it to issue a revised access decision.
Kingston Police Services Board

October 7, 2015
MO-3250 – The IPC finds that the safety and security of archeological sites is not one of the harms identified in section 10(1), and orders disclosure of two archeological assessment reports relating to a specified property.
Town of Amherstburg

October 13, 2015
PO-3539 – The IPC upholds the ministry’s decision that requests made to it were frivolous and vexatious on the basis that the appellant’s actions establish a pattern of conduct that amounts to an abuse of the right of access. The order limits the appellant’s right of access to one active appeal or request at a time.
Ministry of Children and Youth Services

October 21, 2015
MO-3253-I –The IPC upholds the board’s decision that a legal opinion prepared for another party is exempt under solicitor-client privilege because the board and the other party shared a common interest in the subject matter of the opinion.
Limestone District School Board

October 27, 2015
PO-3543 – The IPC finds that the transitional provisions in the Building Ontario Up Act do not prohibit the appeal from proceeding and orders Hydro One to issue an access decision.
Hydro One

© 2015 Information and Privacy Commissioner of Ontario. All rights reserved.