Spring update: Annual conference, Section activities and CLE opportunities

  • June 27, 2024

JOIN US FOR OUR ANNUAL CONFERENCE ON NOVEMBER 7 AND 8, 2024 IN OTTAWA!

We are delighted to announce the dates for our next in-person Privacy and Access to Information Law Symposium! Join us on November 7 and 8, as esteemed members from all corners of the country will convene at the Fairmont Chateau Laurier Ottawa for cutting-edge discussions on privacy and access to information law.

The theme this year is “technological tricks and practical treats”. We prepared an outstanding agenda, featuring our highly sought-after plenary sessions of International, Canadian and Provincial Updates. We also identified 8 concurrent session topics that align with our theme of the need for practicality in the face of constant technological and policy changes. Topics include cyber breach readiness, youth privacy, applying access exceptions and the future of access to Cabinet confidences and mandate letters, biometrics and the practical side of AI. The Symposium will conclude with our popular Regulators’ Panel.

Registration for the conference will open soon, so please check back for updates!

2024 LAW SERIES

Our Section offers your some informative webinars. You can access the recordings of previous programs.

Stay tuned for our upcoming webinar for in-house counsel!

ADVOCACY HIGHLIGHTS

The Section has been busy contributing to various advocacy initiatives, including the following submissions:

Second Additional Protocol to Council of Europe Convention on Cybercrime (March 15, 2024)

The CBA supports the 2nd Additional Protocol to Council of Europe Convention on Cybercrime and raises concerns about other jurisdictions possibly obtaining confidential subscriber information.

Bill C-27 – Digital Charter Implementation Act, 2022 (AIDA) (February 21, 2024)

The CBA addresses the Artificial Intelligence and Data Act portion of the Bill C-27, Digital Charter Implementation Act, 2022.

Draft Guidance on Biometric Technologies (OPC) (February 14, 2024)

The CBA responds to the Office of the Privacy Commissioner’s draft guidance on biometric technologies.

In February, members of our Executive met with Information Commissioner Maynard. In April, we met with the Office of the Privacy Commissioner’s Marc Chénier, who is the recently appointed Deputy Commissioner and Senior General Counsel. These meetings help strengthen the ongoing dialogue between our Section and regulators, and provide opportunities for us to offer our expertise on emerging access to information and privacy issues.

MEMBER ARTICLES

We encourage you to check out Lauren Daly’s article titled “Flushing Away Privacy Rights”. Her insightful article analyzes the privacy interests in wastewater by looking at the current legal basis for privacy rights in Canada, the public health justifications for privacy infringement, and the potential conflicts that courts may see develop as wastewater surveillance grows in popularity.

We welcome submissions from our members! If you are interested in posting your article, please contact our Section.

CBA PRIVACY AND ACCESS LAW SECTION STUDENT ESSAY CONTEST

The CBA Privacy and Access Law Section established an annual Law Student Essay Contest with the objectives of promoting interest in Privacy and Access Law topics in Canadian law schools and participation by Canadian law students in the Privacy and Access Law Section.

The winner of the essay contest 2024 will be revealed at the Privacy and Access to Information Law Symposium.

Consider for next year! For more information about the criteria and eligibility or to enter the contest, click here.

WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU!

We encourage you to bring your insights, experience and passion to our Section’s activities. Besides attending the annual Symposium or one upcoming Law Series webinars, you can submit a member article to be published on our webpage, or participate in our advocacy work. If you want to get involved or have suggestions, please contact us.

Thank you,

Sinzi Gutiu
Chair, Privacy & Access Law Section