The Office of the Information and Privacy Commissioner (OIPC) has released its submission to the statutory review of the Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act, 2015 (ATIPPA, 2015). Pursuant to section 117 of ATIPPA, 2015, the Minister of Justice and Public Safety appointed Keri-Lynn Power, LLB (Hons), LLM, as the committee chair to conduct the five-year review of the legislation.
“ATIPPA, 2015 is one of Newfoundland and Labrador’s great success stories,” said Information and Privacy Commissioner Kerry Hatfield. “It is widely recognized as the strongest access to information law in Canada. People in this province can obtain more government information, more quickly, and at less cost than citizens anywhere else in the country. That is something Newfoundlanders and Labradorians should be proud of, and something we should be determined to protect.”
While OIPC’s submission recommends preserving the core framework of ATIPPA, 2015, it identifies several targeted amendments to strengthen transparency, accountability, and privacy protection. Key recommendations include clarifying oversight relating to solicitor-client privilege claims, strengthening privacy protections for information held by political parties, addressing emerging issues associated with artificial intelligence, and expanding oversight mechanisms to better safeguard privacy rights in an evolving technological environment.
“After more than eleven years of experience with this legislation, our view is that ATIPPA, 2015 is working well,” said Commissioner Hatfield. “Our priority is to preserve the rights and protections that have made Newfoundland and Labrador a leader in access to information, while making focused improvements where they are needed.”
OIPC encourages all interested individuals to review its submission and learn more about the ongoing review process.
Learn more
OIPC Submission to the ATIPPA, 2015 Review Committee
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