Alberta’s Information and Privacy Commissioner joined her counterparts from across the country at annual meeting this week in Ottawa
Canada’s federal, provincial and territorial information and privacy commissioners and ombuds gathered in Ottawa this week to explore ways to continue to foster public trust in democratic institutions through transparency, privacy protection and independent oversight.
Hosted by Information Commissioner of Canada Caroline Maynard and Privacy Commissioner of Canada Philippe Dufresne, the annual meeting brought together information and privacy regulators from across the country to discuss their roles as independent oversight bodies and to exchange perspectives on issues affecting their respective jurisdictions.
Privacy-related discussions focused on the opportunities and risks associated with emerging technologies, including AI, quantum computing and advanced data-processing systems. Participants examined how privacy intersects with cross-border data flows, digital sovereignty and national resilience.
Participants also discussed how access to information supports transparency and public understanding of government decision-making. They explored how new technologies are changing the ways in which government records are created and managed, and the implications for access rights.
“Like jurisdictions across Canada and around the globe, Alberta faces numerous emerging challenges in our work to safeguard access to information and privacy rights,” said Information and Privacy Commissioner of Alberta Diane McLeod. “The increasing use of innovative technologies is revolutionizing the way we live, work and play. Along with the benefits, this creates new risks that we must work thoughtfully to mitigate. My office is working to provide information and guidance to citizens about these risks and has spent considerable energy developing recommendations about how access and privacy laws should be updated. Meetings such as the one this week in Ottawa is a key opportunity to exchange ideas and approaches that will help us meet these ongoing challenges.”
Meeting participants heard from experts in government, academia, industry, civil society and the legal community on issues shaping the future of access to information and privacy protection across Canada.
“As data-driven technologies continue to evolve and expand rapidly, collaboration across federal, provincial and territorial jurisdictions is essential to protect the privacy of Canadians”, said Philippe Dufresne, Privacy Commissioner of Canada. “Prioritizing privacy at this pivotal time by ensuring appropriate protections for personal information supports responsible innovation and fosters trust in organizations and the digital economy.”
“Modernizing our laws and embracing new technologies must not come at the expense of transparency,” said Caroline Maynard, Information Commissioner of Canada. “As technology and the way information is managed continues to evolve, our commitment to earning and maintaining Canadians’ trust must remain strong. This meeting provided an important opportunity for regulators from across the country to share perspectives and learn from one another.”
Related link:
Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada: Provincial and territorial collaboration
Through the OIPC, the Information and Privacy Commissioner performs the responsibilities set out in Alberta’s access to information and privacy laws, the Access to Information Act, the Protection of Privacy Act, the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act during the transition period, the Health Information Act, and the Personal Information Protection Act. The Commissioner operates independently of government.
For more information:
Elaine Schiman
Communications Manager
Office of the Information and Privacy Commissioner of Alberta
communications@oipc.ab.ca
Mobile: (587) 983-8766