View Freedom of Information and Privacy Act: http://www.bclaws.ca/EPLibraries/bclaws_new/document/ID/freeside/96165_00
What is the purpose of this act?
What powers are conferred on the state or its agents?
How does this act benefit society?
List governmental and community based agencies that work within this legislated act.
What issues may be associated with the administration of this act?
How would you support and advocate for your clients in relationship to this act?
Identify community resources in your area that may assist clients to navigate through legal systems.
Describe and explain current or historical events as seen through the media that relate to this act, convention or charter. Provide a related link or copy of a newspaper article.
About BC Ferries
http://www.bcferries.com/about/foi/tracker.html
Since October 1, 2010, BC Ferries has been responding to Freedom of Information requests in accordance with legislation passed by the Province of British Columbia. This page tells you more about the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act, and what is involved in submitting Freedom of Information requests to BC Ferries.
UVic failed to protect personal information in privacy breach
By Cara McGregor, Office of the Information and Privacy Commissioner for B.C., Mar. 29, 2012
http://www.oipc.bc.ca/news/2012Releases/NR-IR_F12-02(29Mar2012).pdf
In January of 2012, a USB flash drive was stolen from the University of Victoria containing 12,000 employees names, banking information, and SIN numbers. The University did not implement safeguards to protect this information.
What is the purpose of this act?
- To hold people accountable to the public and maintain personal privacy, by giving the public a right to access records, allowing people the right to their own personal information and the opportunity to review correct the information about themselves.
- Prevention of unauthorized collection, use or disclosure of personal information by public bodies and limits what information can be accessed and provides them an opportunity to change this information if they feel necessary.
- Provides rules and guidelines for the use of personal information.
What powers are conferred on the state or its agents?
- A person who makes a request for information has the right of access to any record in the custody or under the control of a public body, including a record containing personal information about the applicant.
- The commissioner oversees this Act. He can pass along his powers to an adjudicator. The minister must approve this application.
- If a provision of this Act is inconsistent or in conflict with a provision of another Act, the provision of this Act triumphs unless the other Act specifically provides that it, or a provision of it, applies despite this Act.
How does this act benefit society?
- Protects confidentiality and allows people to promote what they believe is right or true.
- Ensures that the public is kept knowledgeable about the actions of its government and corporations and all government bodies and corporations are kept honest because their actions and records made public.
List governmental and community based agencies that work within this legislated act.
- The City of Victoria: http://www.victoria.ca/EN/main/departments/legislative-services/freedom-of-information.html
- The University of Victoria: http://www.uvic.ca/universitysecretary/privacy/
- Royal Jubilee Hospital: http://www.viha.ca/NR/rdonlyres/.../release_form_patient_records.doc
- Victoria Police Department: http://vicpd.ca/media/media-releases.aspx
What issues may be associated with the administration of this act?
- The release of certain information could jeopardize international relationships
- The release of other information could affect the conduct of negotiations.
- Individuals may wish for their personal matters to be kept personal, but have little control over what is shared to the public.
- If an individual requests information, there is a fee incurred if it takes longer than 3 hours to compile the information. Depending on how much the fee costs, the individual may not be able to access the information.
- There are 10 sections that are exceptions to disclosure, which have the potential to both protect and harm: Cabinet confidences, advice or recommendations, legal advice, law enforcement, intergovernmental relations, financial or economic hard, conservation of heritage sites, harm to individual or public safety, information soon to be published, harm to business interests, harm to personal privacy.
How would you support and advocate for your clients in relationship to this act?
- By ensuring that the client is aware of his or her rights to privacy and confidentiality.
- I would use the Act to hold those I am working with and myself liable to confidentiality agreements, including knowing when to breach confidentiality to ensure safety.
Identify community resources in your area that may assist clients to navigate through legal systems.
- Knowledge and Information Services Branch (Ministry of Labour and Citizens’ Services): http://www.cio.gov.bc.ca/services/privacy/
- British Columbia’s E-Health Program (Ministry of Health Services): http://www.health.gov.bc.ca/ehealth/index.html
Describe and explain current or historical events as seen through the media that relate to this act, convention or charter. Provide a related link or copy of a newspaper article.
About BC Ferries
http://www.bcferries.com/about/foi/tracker.html
Since October 1, 2010, BC Ferries has been responding to Freedom of Information requests in accordance with legislation passed by the Province of British Columbia. This page tells you more about the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act, and what is involved in submitting Freedom of Information requests to BC Ferries.
UVic failed to protect personal information in privacy breach
By Cara McGregor, Office of the Information and Privacy Commissioner for B.C., Mar. 29, 2012
http://www.oipc.bc.ca/news/2012Releases/NR-IR_F12-02(29Mar2012).pdf
In January of 2012, a USB flash drive was stolen from the University of Victoria containing 12,000 employees names, banking information, and SIN numbers. The University did not implement safeguards to protect this information.