CBA National Privacy and Access Law Section Update

Dear Members,

2017 has already proved to be an exciting year to be involved in Canadian privacy and access to information law, and your National Section is working actively to put you at the forefront.

The Section remains committed to improving the law and the administration of justice. With your help the Section has intervened – or provided constructive and balanced comments – on a number of recent privacy law issues, including:

Parliamentary submissions:

• Privacy Act Amendments (September 2016)
• Bill C-22: National Security and Intelligence Committee of Parliamentarians Act (November 2016) – submission of multi-section working group
• National Security Green Paper, 2016 (December 2016) – submission of multi-section working group
• Security of Canada Information Sharing Act (SCISA) (January 2017)
• Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act (March 2017) –submission with CCCA

Appearances before the Senate or similar committees:

• Privacy Act Amendments (September 2016) – Standing Committee on Access to Information, Privacy and Ethics (ETHI) appearance by R. Gary Dickson
• Security of Canada Information Sharing Act (SCISA) (January 2017) – ETHI Committee appearance by David Elder
• Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act (PIPEDA) (March 2017) – ETHI appearance by Suzanne Morin

Other:

• Consultation on the Private Right of Action Provisions of Canada's Anti-Spam Legislation (February 2017) – multi-section submission made to Department of Innovation, Science and Economic Development
• Cyber Security (November 2016) – multi-section submission made to Public Safety Canada

Please take a moment to take a look through our recent and upcoming Section initiatives and events below. There will be many opportunities for you to get involved before the end of the year! Please contact Crystal Lam for more information.

Sincerely,

Loïc Berdnikoff
Chair, National Privacy & Access Law Section

Section Activities and Submissions

• We encourage members to contribute articles to Crystal Lam.
• Anticipated submission with CCCA on PIPEDA’s 5-year review
• The Section is considering the stance on the Political Parties & Elections Act, which is scheduled for debate before the Standing Committee
• Anticipated submission on modernizing the federal ATIA
• Roundtable Discussion on Access to Basic Subscriber Information (BSI) (April 2017) – upcoming roundtable with the Department of Justice
• Development of an online resource to support strategic advocacy initiatives for legislative change on privacy and access issues in Canada.

Upcoming Events

Ontario
Apr. 9: Register for the annual OBA Privacy Law Summit.

National
Oct.27-28: SAVE THE DATE! The Section will host its annual Access to Information and Privacy Law Symposium in Ottawa.