Order in Council
 

Privacy Commissioner of Canada http://priv.gc.ca/resource/dpd/2012/index_e.cfm

StaySafeOnline.org, National Cyber Security Alliance http://www.staysafeonline.org/dpd

Review Officer Issues Public Report P-11-01: Recommends Changes To WCB Privacy Practices

View Privacy Review Report P-11-01

September 28, 2011 is International Right to Know Day.  There will be various activities in most provinces and at the national level during this week.

The Nova Scotia Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Review Office is participating in this Canada-wide effort to raise awareness of the right to access information and its value, with a local focus on what it means to those living and working in Nova Scotia.

The purpose of these events is to celebrate the right of Canadians, particularly Nova Scotians to access information in the possession, or under the control of public bodies as enshrined in freedom of information legislation.  Such legislation reinforces the accountability of governments by ensuring they operate with transparency and openness.

The Nova Scotia Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Review Office will be hosting a contest open to all Canadians.  Contestants will be asked to complete a quiz testing their knowledge of Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy legislation and its applicability to certain scenarios. The winning contestant will receive a $50 Tim Hortons Gift Card. 

Today the Nova Scotia Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Review Officer's 2010 Annual Report was tabled in the Nova Scotia House of Assembly.
This marks the first year for the Annual Report to be distributed electronically other than those copies provided to the House of Assembly. This has been done to fulfill the Review Office’s commitments to reducing spending, providing readily accessible information at no cost to the public and to environmental sustainability.
English and French copies of the Report can be found on our website at http://www.foipop.ns.ca/pub_annual.html

Right to Know Week September 27 - October 1, 2010

September 28, 2010 is International Right to Know Day. In Nova Scotia, Premier Darrell Dexter has proclaimed the week of September 27 – October 1 Right to Know Week. There will be various activities in most provinces and at the national level during this week.

The Nova Scotia Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Review Office is participating in this Canada-wide effort to raise awareness of the right to access information and its value, with a local focus on what it means to those living and working in Nova Scotia.

The purpose of these events is to celebrate the right of Canadians, particularly Nova Scotians to access information in the possession, or under the control of public bodies as enshrined in freedom of information legislation. Such legislation reinforces the accountability of governments by ensuring they operate with transparency and openness.

The Nova Scotia Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Review Office is supporting an event being held at the University of King’s College on September 28, 2010. Secrecy in Democracy – Freedom of Information in Nova Scotia 2010 will be the theme of this key Right to Know Week event. The event will feature a presentation by King’s journalism professor Fred Vallance-Jones on the 2009-2010 Canadian Newspaper Association study on public sector freedom of information practices across Canada, as well as lively panel discussions involving journalists, politicians and public servants chaired by Darce Fardy, President of the Nova Scotia Right to Know Coalition. The panel discussions will focus on the state of public sector freedom of information practices and the public’s right to know under Nova Scotia’s current access to information legislation.

For more details, click here.

For more information about Right to Know events across Canada, visit www.righttoknow.ca

News Release: Access to Information and Privacy Commissioners Call for Open Government (Sept 01, 2010)

The Nova Scotia Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Review Office is pleased to announce a major development with respect to privacy in Nova Scotia.

Today, September 25, 2009, Nova Scotia joins all other Canadian provinces and territories in providing comprehensive privacy protections in the public sector for its citizens. Bill 234 passed the House of Assembly and was proclaimed An Act to Provide for a Privacy Review Officer.
The incumbent Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Review Officer Ms. Dulcie McCallum was appointed the new Privacy Review Officer. The Privacy Review Officer Act in part stipulates the following powers for the Privacy Review Officer:
 

•monitor how privacy provisions are administered and conduct reviews of privacy complaints arising from the privacy provisions;
•initiate an investigation of privacy compliance if there are reasonable grounds to believe that a person has contravened or is about to contravene the privacy provisions and the subject matter of the review relates to the contravention;
•make recommendations on and mediate privacy complaints;
•undertake research matters concerning privacy legislation;
•inform the public about this Act;
•on the request of a public body, provide advice and comments on privacy;
•a person who believes that his or her own personal information has been collected, used or disclosed in contravention of the privacy provisions may ask the Privacy Review Officer to review the matter;
•the powers and duties of the Review Officer in the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act and related Regulations are referentially incorporated mutatis mutandis.

This new legislation makes the jurisdiction of the Review Officer clear with respect to privacy complaints regarding public bodies. The new Act strengthens the role with respect to privacy by enabling the Review Officer to initiate an investigation, to undertake research, to engage in public education and to provide advice to public bodies. Nova Scotia, which was the first province to introduce access to information legislation, has comprehensive privacy protections in place.
To view the Nova Scotia government press release regarding Ms. McCallum's most recent appointment, please go to http://www.gov.ns.ca/news/details.asp?id=20090925002

September 28, 2009 is International Right to Know Day.  In Nova Scotia, Premier Darrell Dexter has proclaimed the week of September 28 – October 2 Right to Know Week.  There will be various activities in most provinces and at the national level during this week.

The Nova Scotia Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Review Office is participating in this Canada-wide effort to raise awareness of the right to access information and its value, with a local focus on what it means to those living and working in Nova Scotia.

The purpose of these events is to celebrate the right of Canadians, particularly Nova Scotians to access information in the possession, or under the control of public bodies as enshrined in freedom of information legislation.  Such legislation reinforces the accountability of governments by ensuring they operate with transparency and openness.

The Nova Scotia Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Review Office will be hosting a contest open to all Canadians.  Contestants will be asked to complete a quiz testing their knowledge of Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy legislation and its applicability to certain scenarios.  The winning contestant will receive a portable DVD player and two access to information themed movies. 

The Right to Know Week Quiz will be available on our website on Monday, September 28, 2009 at 9:00 am.

Respecting Your Access and Privacy Rights - A Citizen's Guide for Nova Scotians

Privacy Advocates Express Concern About Child Privacy Online

Enhanced Driver's Licenses Concern Canada's Privacy Guardians

Companions to democracy

This article was published in the December 2007 (1:3) issue of The Nova Scotia Policy Review (www.policyreview.ca) and is reproduced here with permission.

Premier Rodney MacDonald proclaims October 1 - October 5, 2007 Right to Know Week in Nova Scotia.  Click here to view the Proclamation.

September 28, 2007 is International Right to Know Day. In Canada, the week of October 01-05, 2007 has been designated as “Right to Know Week.”  There will be various activities in most provinces and at the national level during this week.

The Nova Scotia Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Review Office is participating in this Canada-wide effort to raise awareness of the right to access information and its value, with a local focus on what it means to those living and working in Nova Scotia.

The Review Office will be co-hosting events in conjunction with various libraries in Nova Scotia, as well as participating in an open forum with the Nova Scotia Right to Know Coalition.

The purpose of these events is to celebrate the right of Canadians, particularly Nova Scotians to access information in the possession, or under the control of public bodies as enshrined in freedom of information legislation.  Such legislation reinforces the accountability of governments by ensuring they operate with transparency and openness.

No-fly List Program - Call for suspension

Review Fee Eliminated

Dulcie McCallum, former Ombudsman for the Province of British Columbia, is Nova Scotia's new Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Review Officer.

Ms. McCallum received her law degree from the University of Victoria and has expertise in administrative and human rights law. Over the past 30 years, Ms. McCallum has held positions in private practice and in the public sector. She was Ombudsman for the Province of British Columbia for seven years, until 1999. Since then, Ms. McCallum has worked for government and a number of organizations, including representative on the Canadian Delegation to the United Nations, to draft the new UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.

Ms. McCallum will assume office on February 5, 2007