Dear Members,
This upcoming year will be an exciting year to be involved in the CBA National Privacy and Access Law Section. Whether it is to provide submissions on the fundamental changes brought to PIPEDA’s consent model, tackle the challenges of the new mandatory breach disclosure regime, continue the Section’s annual meeting with the Department of Justice Canada, or to suggest improvements in the upcoming modernization initiatives of the Federal Privacy and Access to Information legislation, we are dedicated to remain a relevant voice on all matters of law and justice while enhancing your membership experience by providing professional development opportunities and ensure access to timely, high-quality, relevant, and affordable training delivered in convenient and accessible formats.
New this year: To keep members connected, our Outreach Committee is pleased to provide you with quarterly bulletins that will keep you informed of all upcoming CBA Privacy and Access activities across Canada. Trent Skanes (Newfoundland & Labrador Branch Chair) has graciously accepted to lead this project on behalf of the Section.
The Section would like to take this opportunity to thank our outgoing Chair Laura Davison for her remarkable work last year. Fortunately, Laura will continue to work closely with your 2016-2017 Executive in her role as Past Chair.
I would like to also remind members that the Section is always looking for volunteers to help with various ongoing projects – from Parliamentary submissions to articles. Please contact our CBA liaison Crystal Lam (1-800-267-8860 ext. 133) if you are interested in actively participating in our Section.
We are looking forward to a great year ahead!
Sincerely,
Loïc Berdnikoff
Chair, CBA National Privacy & Access Law Section
Section Announcements
Technology developments, global changes to Privacy and Access to Information legislation and even local torts mean that there is a lot to stay on top of as a privacy lawyer in 2016-2017. With your help, our Section will be an active and influential contributor on all rapidly changing fronts. Here is what the National Section is up to in the next little while:
- The Section is holding its annual in-person meeting on Oct. 27, 2016 (Ottawa) to prepare for the upcoming year
- We are holding our flagship event – the CBA Annual Access to Information and Privacy Law Symposium – from Oct. 28, 2016 to Oct. 29, 2016. The symposium will cover the changes happening in US and European privacy laws that have, or are likely to have, significant implications for Canadians. Register now!
- This Fall, the Section will be making submissions on Bill C-22 (Parliamentary oversight of certain federal agencies with access to information/privacy implications) before Parliament’s Standing Committee on Access to Information, Privacy and Ethics. The response to Bill C-22 is part of a larger CBA Anti-Terrorism/National Security Committee, and we are actively seeking volunteers to fill out working groups for this initiative. If you are interested, please contact our staff lawyer, Kellie Krake.
- We are expected to respond to the Federal Commissioner of Privacy this Fall regarding amendments to the Federal Privacy Act. Interested? Contact Kellie Krake.
- Upcoming webinars:
- Joint webinar with the Administrative Law Section, Constitutional & Human Rights Law Section, and Public Sector Lawyers Forum on the ‘Role of the Commissioner vis-Ã -vis the Executive and Parliament’ in the Fall
- Our Section will be presenting a webinar entitled ‘A Retrospect and Prospect of Health Information Law in Canada’ later this year. Details will be posted on the Section webpage.
Our Section is looking for articles that fall under our mandate – Please send articles to privacy@cba.org.