Volume II

Issue : 14: July 8, 2004

• U.S. Supreme Court Rules COPA Unconstitutional
• Negotiation Instead of Litigation over Internet Gambling
• The Ontario Privacy Commission Releases 2003 Annual Report
• U.S. Appeals Court Dismisses Appeal in Microsoft Antitrust Case
• Quebec Court Dismisses Claim of Internet Defamation
• U.S. Court Finds Email Monitoring Does Not Violate Privacy Laws
• United States United Kingdom and Australia Unite to Fight Spam Together
• In Landmark Decision (Tariff 22), Supreme Court of Canada Rules ISPs Not Liable for Copyright Violations by Subscribers

Home > Volume II > Issue 14: July 8, 2004 > The Ontario Privacy Commission Releases 2003 Annual Report

The Ontario Privacy Commission Releases 2003 Annual Report

On June 15, 2004, the Ontario Privacy Commissioner, Ann Cavoukian ("the Commissioner"), released her 2003 annual report. In her report, the Commissioner praised the Ontario government for its efforts in introducing the Health Information Protection Act and in acting quickly to return Hydro One and Ontario Power Generation to the list of institutions covered by the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act. However, it also outlined eight areas that require government action. These areas are as follows:

1. renewing a government culture of openness;

2. enacting Ontario private-sector privacy legislation;

3. creating an Open Meetings law;

4. establishing a provincial Chief Privacy Officer;

5. reviewing the fees charged for access requests;

6. reforming the "contentious issues management" process;

7. restoring the access and privacy rights of public sector workers; and

8. addressing the issue of electronic public registries.

In her report the Commissioner expressed a concern over the privacy implications of federal security and anti-terrorism bills introduced in 2003, which provide for biometric technology and the national identification card and could have a profound impact on the privacy of all Canadians.

Other topics covered in the 2003 annual report include:

1. an increase in the number of freedom of information requests filed across Ontario;

2. the response rate of various government organizations to freedom of information requests by the public;

3. the number of appeals filed and the number of appeals closed during 2003;

4. an outline of high profile privacy incidents;

5. a review of court decisions (including the Supreme Court of Canada decision) involving the scope of the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act;

6. an overview of various programs and publications offered by the Information and Privacy Commission.

For a copy of the 2003 Annual Report, visit:

http://www.ipc.on.ca/userfiles/page_attachments/ar-03e.pdf

For more information, visit:

http://shorl.com/festajudyvypry