BC Special committee’s recommended changes to the Freedom of Information legislation
A special committee of the British Columbia (BC) has tabled its report making 39 recommendations to amend BC’s Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act. You can read their report here.
The BC Information and Privacy Commissioner has issued a news release regarding the special committee report. You can read his statement on BC’s OIPC website.
Recommendations focused on:
- measures to enhance proactive disclosure
- a duty to document key decisions and actions of public bodies
- a cohesive and robust information management framework in government
- retention of the data residency requirement
- extension of the Act to cover additional public bodies
- changes to timelines and the right to anonymity
- mandatory notification about significant privacy breaches
- oversight by the Commissioner of automated decision-making
- requiring consultation with the Commissioner when legislation has access and privacy implications and
- the legislation would apply to the administrative function of the legislative assembly
The updating of the freedom of information and privacy legislation continues across our country.