Info Matters

A casual conversation between two Canadian privacy commissioners | Une conversation informelle entre deux commissaires canadiens à la protection de la vie privée

Episode Summary

Listen to Commissioners Kosseim and Dufresne speak candidly about some of the challenges and opportunities they face and potential areas for collaboration between their offices. Bilingual episode in English and French.

Episode Notes

Philippe Dufresne, Privacy Commissioner of Canada, is a leading legal expert on human rights, administrative, and constitutional law. He previously served as the Law Clerk and Parliamentary Counsel of the House of Commons. The Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada (OPC) oversees compliance with the Privacy Act, which covers the personal information-handling practices of federal government departments and agencies, and the Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act (PIPEDA), Canada’s federal private-sector privacy law.

• One-year anniversary, stepping into a new role as privacy commissioner of Canada [1:45]
• Three years as Ontario’s information and privacy commissioner [4:26]
• Adapting to the hybrid workplace model [6:34]
• Rhythms of work throughout the year [9:02]
• From human rights lawyer to privacy commissioner of Canada [10:46]
• The fast-moving dialogue about privacy issues [12:24]
• Making the switch from federal to provincial regulator [14:02]
• Why it’s a pivotal time for privacy protection [18:52]
• Artificial intelligence, Bill C-27, Digital Charter Implementation Act [19:34]
• Harnessing the power of AI for good [22:37]
• A modern and effective regulator for a digital Ontario [23:39]
• Preparing to implement a new law in a continuing state of uncertainty [25:52]
• Closing gaps in privacy protection for Ontario workers [29:45]
• Federal-provincial collaboration: education, privacy protections for children and youth [33:21]
• Federal-provincial collaboration: enforcement and investigations, raising public awareness of privacy issues [36:19]

Resources:

• Bill C-27, Digital Charter Implementation Act, 2022
• Appearance before the Standing Committee on Access to Information, Privacy and Ethics (ETHI) on the Study of Device Investigation Tools Used by the RCMP (Opening statement by Philippe Dufresne, August 8, 2022)
• Investigation into Home Depot of Canada Inc.’s compliance with PIPEDA (OPC, January 26, 2023)
• A pivotal time for privacy (Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada, 
  2021-22 Annual Report to Parliament) 
• Canadian Digital Regulators Forum established to better serve Canadians in the digital era (news release, June 9, 2023)
• The vision of a modern and effective regulator (IPC 2022 annual report)
• Joint statement by the Information and Privacy Commissioner of Ontario and the Ontario Human Rights Commission on the use of AI technologies (May 25, 2023)
• IPC Strategic Priorities 2021-2025

Info Matters is a podcast about people, privacy, and access to information hosted by Patricia Kosseim, Information and Privacy Commissioner of Ontario. We dive into conversations with people from all walks of life and hear stories about the access and privacy issues that matter most to them. 

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Have an access to information or privacy topic you want to learn more about? Interested in being a guest on the show? Send us a tweet @IPCinfoprivacy or email us at podcast@ipc.on.ca. 

The information, opinions, and recommendations presented in this podcast are for general information only. It should not be relied upon as a substitute for legal advice. Unless specifically stated otherwise, the IPC does not endorse, approve, recommend, or certify any information, product, process, service, or organization presented or mentioned in this podcast, and information from this podcast should not be used or reproduced in any way to imply such approval or endorsement. None of the information, opinions and recommendations presented in this podcast bind the IPC’s Tribunal that may be called upon to independently investigate and decide upon an individual complaint or appeal based on the specific facts and unique circumstances of a given case.