Welcome to another new CBA year and the Privacy and Access Law Section!
I am honoured to be your Chair for the 2018-2019 year and am pleased to welcome the rest of our Executive Committee. We are here to help and would love to hear from you.
We’ve had an excellent start to the year with a sell-out to the Section’s annual Access to Information & Privacy Law Symposium that took place on October 19-20 in Ottawa, attended by over 100 participants from across the country. Thanks to all who made the conference one of the Section’s best yet!
The Section is currently working on and finalizing submissions to the Senate Committee on Bill C-76, Elections Modernization Act, and to ISED on proposed technical changes to Canada’s Anti-Spam Legislation (CASL). We are also drafting submissions and monitoring developments related to Bill C-59, An Act respecting national security matters, the review of PIPEDA: Report of the ETHI Committee issued in February 2018, and the Government of Canada’s response to the report.
Below you will find opportunities on how to get involved in Section initiatives, as well as view our recent submissions.
Lastly, I would like to take this opportunity to thank our outgoing Chair, Suzanne Morin, for her commitment, contributions and work over the last year. Suzanne has been, and continues to be, a valuable member of the Executive.
We thank you for your continued support of our Section and look forward to working with you!
Sincerely,
Lorne Randa
Chair, CBA Privacy and Access Law Section
GET INVOLVED!
- The Section remains committed to improving the law and administration of justice, and are looking for volunteers interested in participating in two new working groups with focus on:
- Privacy Act reform
- The creation of a tool kit for CBA members on solicitor-client privilege in relation to the application of access to information laws.
- The Section is always looking for new member articles. Please send completed articles (300 to 1,000 words) to Laurel Gaylor.
- Planning for next year’s 2019 Symposium will be underway shortly and we invite you to share your ideas, or to get involved with the Symposium planning committee.Please contact us for more information on how to get involved.
RECENT SUBMISSIONS
The Section has been very busy over the last year in the area of law and legislative reform. With your help, the Section has made submissions to and/or appeared before:
- The Senate Committee on Bill C-58, An Act to amend the Access to Information Act and the Privacy Act and to make consequential amendments to other Acts, with a joint submission (May 29, 2018) with the Ethics and Professional Responsibility Subcommittee and the Judicial Issues Subcommittee. Vice Chair Alexis Kerr, along with Tina Head, CBA lawyer for Ethics Committee, appeared before the Senate Committee on October 24, 2018.
- The Office of the Privacy Commissioner (OPC) with a multi-section submission (along with the Canadian Corporate Counsel Association and Children’s Law Committee) in response to the OPC’s Consultation on Online Reputation (May 1, 2018). Additionally, a joint submission with the Canadian Corporate Counsel Association on the Revised OPC Guidelines on Meaningful Online Consent (April 26, 2018).
- The Senate, the Minister of Democratic Institutions, the Acting Chief Electoral Officer and the Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner on April 27, 2018, with a submission on the issue of Political Parties & Privacy Protection for Canadian Electors – Bill C-50, An Act to amend the Canada Elections Act (political fundraising).