Access and Privacy Online

This is your Access and Privacy News Summary for Saturday, March 21st. 

This week, we begin with a troubling pattern that has been unfolding across Canada. 

What started in British Columbia with Bill 9 is now being echoed elsewhere: governments and political actors chipping away at access-to-information and privacy rights while describing those changes as modernization, efficiency, or administrative reform. 

Taken together, it looks less like a series of isolated reforms and more like a broader race to the bottom—one where secrecy expands, accountability contracts, and the public is asked to accept it all as reasonable housekeeping. 

Show Notes: https://fipa.bc.ca/nm/20260321-access-and-privacy-online 

Individual Stories: https://fipa.bc.ca/tag/2026-season-episode-12 

FIPA Bill C-4 

• Bill C-4 Dashboard: https://fipa.bc.ca/fipa-bill-c-4-part-4-dashboard/  

• Bill C-4 Backgrounder: https://fipa.bc.ca/bill-c-4-background/ 

• FIPA E-petition page: https://fipa.bc.ca/upcoming-hoc-e-petition   

• House of Commons E-Petition: https://www.ourcommons.ca/petitions/en/Petition/Sign/e-7237   

• Donate to Help Us Reach More Canadians: https://fipa.bc.ca/pr/donate-c4/ 

Support these efforts by subscribing or donating. 

Send comments to FIPAOnline@fipa.bc.ca 

Our Contributors: 

Writing: Shaun Fisk | Production: Patrick Farnsworth | Music: Breakmaster Cylinder  

Access and Privacy Online: https://fipa.bc.ca/research-resources/podcasts/access-and-privacy-online/  

News stories through the Canadian Press and Feedly. 

Available through: PodBean, Apple iTunes,  YouTube, Spotify, Amazon Music, iHeartRadio, PlayerFM. ListenNotes,  Podchaser, Boomplay 

This is your Access and Privacy News Summary for Saturday, March 14th. 

It’s another busy week across Canada’s privacy and transparency landscape. 

We’re tracking a major privacy investigation into Loblaw’s PC Optimum program, new conditions allowing TikTok to keep operating in Canada, and growing concerns about facial recognition and workplace AI surveillance. 

And on the transparency front, Canada’s Information Commissioner is warning that federal access-to-information reform proposals lack ambition—while freedom-of-information reporting reveals gaps in everything from hospital overdose data to environmental spill reporting.  

And in late-breaking news this week, as British Columbia continues debate over Bill 9, the government’s proposed changes to the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act, Ontario introduces changes designed to let the Premier act without public scrutiny. 

And on the Federal front, as one chapter has closed, another opens as Bill C-4 has passed into law. 

Show Notes: https://fipa.bc.ca/nm/20260314-access-and-privacy-online

Individual Stories: https://fipa.bc.ca/tag/2026-season-episode-11 

FIPA Bill C-4 

• Bill C-4 Dashboard: https://fipa.bc.ca/fipa-bill-c-4-part-4-dashboard/  

• Bill C-4 Backgrounder: https://fipa.bc.ca/bill-c-4-background/ 

• FIPA E-petition page: https://fipa.bc.ca/upcoming-hoc-e-petition   

• House of Commons E-Petition: https://www.ourcommons.ca/petitions/en/Petition/Sign/e-7237 

• Donate to Help Us Reach More Canadians: https://fipa.bc.ca/pr/donate-c4/ 

Support these efforts by subscribing or donating. 

Send comments to FIPAOnline@fipa.bc.ca 

Our Contributors: 

Writing: Shaun Fisk | Production: Patrick Farnsworth | Music: Breakmaster Cylinder  

Access and Privacy Online: https://fipa.bc.ca/research-resources/podcasts/access-and-privacy-online/  

News stories through the Canadian Press and Feedly. 

Available through: PodBean, Apple iTunes,  YouTube, Spotify, Amazon Music, iHeartRadio, PlayerFM. ListenNotes,  Podchaser, Boomplay 

Mike Larsen of the BC Freedom of Information and Privacy Association explains how Part 4 of Bill C-4 would exempt federal political parties from federal and provincial privacy laws and leave Canadians without a legal right to access or control their personal information held by parties.

FIPA’s petition calls on the House of Commons to oppose or repeal any changes to law that have the effect of exempting political parties from privacy obligations. It also calls on the House of Commons to impose meaningful and enforceable privacy rules that will govern the activities of federal political parties.  

We urge listeners to sign Petition E-7237 on the House of Commons website, which calls for enforceable privacy rules for political parties.

The petition is open for signatures, and we encourage you to sign and share it. 

• E-7237 Petition to the House of Commons: https://www.ourcommons.ca/petitions/en/Petition/Sign/e-7237 

FIPA Bill C-4 

• Bill C-4 Dashboard: https://fipa.bc.ca/fipa-bill-c-4-part-4-dashboard/  

• Bill C-4 Backgrounder: https://fipa.bc.ca/bill-c-4-background/ 

• FIPA E-petition page: https://fipa.bc.ca/upcoming-hoc-e-petition   

• House of Commons E-Petition: https://www.ourcommons.ca/petitions/en/Petition/Details?Petition=e-7237   

• Donate to Help Us Reach More Canadians: https://fipa.bc.ca/pr/donate-c4/ 

 

This is your Access and Privacy News Summary for Saturday, March 7th. 

It’s been a busy week across the privacy and transparency landscape and here at FIPA.  

In British Columbia, the provincial government has introduced Bill 9, a set of amendments to the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act that critics say could weaken public access to government records.  

At the federal level, Bill C-4 Part 4—the controversial proposal to shield federal political parties from privacy law oversight—is returning to the House of Commons after the Senate added a three-year sunset clause intended to force Parliament to adopt real privacy protections.  

Meanwhile, Meta’s AI smart glasses are already raising serious privacy concerns as reports emerge of users secretly recording people in vulnerable situations.  

This week also saw major conversations about artificial intelligence governance, as FIPA joined experts and policymakers at the 28th Annual Victoria International Privacy and Security Summit, while our civil-society network continues work on Canada’s People’s Consultation on AI.  

We’ll also look at how access-to-information requests continue to expose accountability gaps, from government communications around EV rebates to whistleblower reports on workplace abuse and public health risks.  

And we’ll close with a difficult but important conversation about the tension between children’s privacy rights and parental authority, a debate now unfolding across Canada and the United States. 

Show Notes: https://fipa.bc.ca/nm/20260307-access-and-privacy-online 

Individual Stories: https://fipa.bc.ca/tag/2026-season-episode-10 

FIPA Bill C-4 

• Bill C-4 Dashboard: https://fipa.bc.ca/fipa-bill-c-4-part-4-dashboard/  

• Bill C-4 Backgrounder: https://fipa.bc.ca/bill-c-4-background/ 

• FIPA E-petition page: https://fipa.bc.ca/upcoming-hoc-e-petition   

• House of Commons E-Petition: https://www.ourcommons.ca/petitions/en/Petition/Details?Petition=e-7237   

• Donate to Help Us Reach More Canadians: https://fipa.bc.ca/pr/donate-c4/ 

Support these efforts by subscribing or donating. 

Send comments to FIPAOnline@fipa.bc.ca 

Our Contributors: 

Writing: Shaun Fisk | Production: Patrick Farnsworth | Music: Breakmaster Cylinder  

Access and Privacy Online: https://fipa.bc.ca/research-resources/podcasts/access-and-privacy-online/  

News stories through the Canadian Press and Feedly. 

Available through: PodBean, Apple iTunes,  YouTube, Spotify, Amazon Music, iHeartRadio, PlayerFM. ListenNotes,  Podchaser, Boomplay 

This is your Access and Privacy News Summary for Saturday, February 28th. 

It’s a busy week with big stories and late - breaking developments on Bill C-4 Part 4. 

Artificial intelligence companies are sitting at the centre of a devastating human tragedy in Tumbler Ridge—raising questions about what happens when private companies flag violent threats but face no clear legal duty to act. 

At the same time, political parties are being pitched AI-powered “digital fighters” to weaponize voter data in real time—even as Parliament and Senate continue debating legislation that would shield parties from independent privacy oversight. 

Remaining in B.C., the provincial government has introduced Bill 9, promising efficiency in the FOI system—while critics warn it weakens access rights and ignores longstanding recordkeeping failures. 

And in the United States, court battles over press freedom, immigration enforcement secrecy, and mass document disclosures continue to test the boundaries of constitutional protections. 

It’s a week when surveillance, accountability, and democratic safeguards are colliding. 

Show Notes: https://fipa.bc.ca/nm/20260228-access-and-privacy-online 

Individual Stories: https://fipa.bc.ca/tag/2026-season-episode-09 

FIPA Bill C-4 

• Bill C-4 Dashboard: https://fipa.bc.ca/fipa-bill-c-4-part-4-dashboard/  

• Bill C-4 Backgrounder: https://fipa.bc.ca/bill-c-4-background/ 

• Send a message to members of parliament: https://fipa.bc.ca/c-4-email-to-mps/ 

• Send a message to Senators: https://fipa.bc.ca/c-4-email-to-senators/ 

• Bill C-4 Resources: https://fipa.bc.ca/bill-c-4-resources/ 

• Donate to Help Us Reach More Canadians: https://fipa.bc.ca/pr/donate-c4/ 

Support these efforts by subscribing or donating. 

Send comments to FIPAOnline@fipa.bc.ca 

Our Contributors: 

Writing: Shaun Fisk | Production: Patrick Farnsworth | Music: Breakmaster Cylinder  

Access and Privacy Online: https://fipa.bc.ca/research-resources/podcasts/access-and-privacy-online/  

News stories through the Canadian Press and Feedly. 

Available through: PodBean, Apple iTunes,  YouTube, Spotify, Amazon Music, iHeartRadio, PlayerFM. ListenNotes,  Podchaser, Boomplay 

This is your Access and Privacy News Summary for Saturday, February 21st. 

This week, the Senate delivers a significant report on Bill C-4, Part 4, with a majority of committee members warning that the proposed political party privacy regime falls far short of minimum standards—and recommending that it be removed, severed, or sunset. 

We’re also tracking how access-to-information requests continue to expose accountability gaps—from more than 1,500 Canadians serving in the Israeli military to unanswered questions about how many patients are overdosing inside B.C. hospitals. 

At the local level, we look at environmental enforcement concerns in Kahnawà:ke, farmland preservation battles in Ontario, and record deficits in New Brunswick. 

And internationally, voter data seizures, police database abuse, AI identity disputes, and even iPhone security features are raising urgent questions about how personal information is protected—or misused. 

Show Notes: https://fipa.bc.ca/nm/20260221-access-and-privacy-online 

Individual Stories: https://fipa.bc.ca/tag/2026-season-episode-08 

FIPA Bill C-4 

• Bill C-4 Dashboard: https://fipa.bc.ca/fipa-bill-c-4-part-4-dashboard/  

• Bill C-4 Backgrounder: https://fipa.bc.ca/bill-c-4-background/ 

• Send a message to members of parliament: https://fipa.bc.ca/c-4-email-to-mps/ 

• Send a message to Senators: https://fipa.bc.ca/c-4-email-to-senators/ 

• Bill C-4 Resources: https://fipa.bc.ca/bill-c-4-resources/ 

• Donate to Help Us Reach More Canadians: https://fipa.bc.ca/pr/donate-c4/ 

Support these efforts by subscribing or donating. 

Send comments to FIPAOnline@fipa.bc.ca 

Our Contributors: 

Writing: Shaun Fisk | Production: Patrick Farnsworth | Music: Breakmaster Cylinder  

Access and Privacy Online: https://fipa.bc.ca/research-resources/podcasts/access-and-privacy-online/  

News stories through the Canadian Press and Feedly. 

Available through: PodBean, Apple iTunes,  YouTube, Spotify, Amazon Music, iHeartRadio, PlayerFM. ListenNotes,  Podchaser, Boomplay 

This is a special edition of Access and Privacy Online, bringing you an update on the Senate hearings into Bill C-4, Part 4.  

Over the past week, Senators have heard unified testimony from privacy regulators, civil society leaders, and academic experts—all warning that Part 4 weakens Canadians’ privacy rights rather than strengthening them.  

Today, we’ll walk through what happened, what tools are being used to hold government accountable, and what comes next. As usual, you can find all the supporting material in our show notes.  

At the time of posting, Bill C-4 remains before a Senate committee. It is not too late to make your voice heard. We’ll bring you more next week—and you can find more details in the show notes below.  

Show Notes: https://fipa.bc.ca/nm/202402-fipa-commentary-bill-c-4-special-edition 

Individual Stories: https://fipa.bc.ca/tag/2026-season-episode-07 

FIPA Bill C-4 

• Bill C-4 Dashboard: https://fipa.bc.ca/fipa-bill-c-4-part-4-dashboard/  

• Bill C-4 Backgrounder: https://fipa.bc.ca/bill-c-4-background/ 

• Bill C-4 Part 4 Senate: https://fipa.bc.ca/bill-c-4-part-4-in-the-senate/  

• Donate to Help Us Reach More Canadians: https://fipa.bc.ca/pr/donate-c4/ 

Support these efforts by subscribing or donating. 

Send comments to FIPAOnline@fipa.bc.ca 

Our Contributors: 

Writing: Shaun Fisk | Production: Patrick Farnsworth | Music: Breakmaster Cylinder  

Access and Privacy Online: https://fipa.bc.ca/research-resources/podcasts/access-and-privacy-online/  

News stories through the Canadian Press and Feedly. 

Available through: PodBean, Apple iTunes,  YouTube, Spotify, Amazon Music, iHeartRadio, PlayerFM. ListenNotes,  Podchaser, Boomplay 

This is your Access and Privacy News Summary for Saturday, February 14th. 

This week, policing is under increased privacy and information scrutiny as a sweeping corruption scandal in Toronto has led to charges against eight current and former officers—and triggered a province-wide systems review across Ontario. 

We’re also tracking renewed calls to bring the Prime Minister’s Office under access-to-information law, a major Supreme Court ruling reshaping solicitor-client privilege, and an the ongoing crisis in Nova Scotia following last year’s cyberattack on the province’s power utility. 

In the United States, lawmakers are battling over classified complaints, election rules, surveillance programs, and the fallout from the Epstein files—while new disclosures reveal the IRS mistakenly shared taxpayer data with Homeland Security. 

And we close with the extraordinary personal impact of U.S. sanctions on a Canadian judge serving at the International Criminal Court. 

At the time of recording, Bill C-4 remains before a Senate committee. It’s not too late to make your voice heard. We’ll bring you more next week—and you can find details in the show notes. 

Show Notes: https://fipa.bc.ca/nm/20260214-access-and-privacy-online 

Individual Stories: https://fipa.bc.ca/tag/2026-season-episode-07 

FIPA Bill C-4 

• Bill C-4 Dashboard: https://fipa.bc.ca/fipa-bill-c-4-part-4-dashboard/  

• Bill C-4 Backgrounder: https://fipa.bc.ca/bill-c-4-background/ 

• Send a message to members of parliament: https://fipa.bc.ca/c-4-email-to-mps/ 

• Send a message to Senators: https://fipa.bc.ca/c-4-email-to-senators/ 

• Bill C-4 Resources: https://fipa.bc.ca/bill-c-4-resources/ 

• Donate to Help Us Reach More Canadians: https://fipa.bc.ca/pr/donate-c4/ 

Support these efforts by subscribing or donating. 

Send comments to FIPAOnline@fipa.bc.ca 

Our Contributors: 

Writing: Shaun Fisk | Production: Patrick Farnsworth | Music: Breakmaster Cylinder  

Access and Privacy Online: https://fipa.bc.ca/research-resources/podcasts/access-and-privacy-online/  

News stories through the Canadian Press and Feedly. 

Available through: PodBean, Apple iTunes,  YouTube, Spotify, Amazon Music, iHeartRadio, PlayerFM. ListenNotes,  Podchaser, Boomplay