Bill includes administrative changes to Protection of Privacy Act, Access to Information Act
Alberta has introduced Bill 46, the Protection of Privacy and Access to Information Statutes Amendment Act, which will make administrative amendments seeking to clarify and streamline the Protection of Privacy Act (POPA) and Access to Information Act (ATIA).
Nate Glubish, Alberta’s technology and innovation minister, said in a news release that Bill 46 is “another step forward in our commitment to modernizing our privacy legislation to better protect the privacy of Albertans.”
Last December, the provincial government passed the POPA and ATIA to replace the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (FOIP Act), said a news release of the Alberta government. These two acts will come into force this spring, the news release said.
Amendments to both the POPA and ATIA aim to align the wording of these two acts in connection with judicial administration records, as well as introduce new regulatory powers in support of consequential updates in any legislation referencing the FOIP Act to reflect the new acts, the Alberta government’s news release said. Alberta said that it expects to make these updates this spring.
“These changes focus on clarity and consistency and will ensure the smooth implementation of the two new acts, while strengthening privacy protections and access to information in Alberta,” said Dale Nally, minister of Service Alberta and red tape reduction, in the news release.
“Ensuring clearly worded legislation supports the Alberta government’s commitment to implementing the strongest privacy protection and the strictest penalties for privacy violations in Canada,” Glubish said in the news release.
Amendments to the POPA seek to shed light on privacy protections, safeguards for disclosure, and the application of the legislation, the provincial government’s news release said. Specifically, the changes clarify that:
In its news release, the provincial government reiterated that regulations supporting the POPA and ATIA will be ready this spring and will be proclaimed at the same time as the two acts. The supporting regulations aim to reflect feedback gathered when consulting with public bodies on the draft regulations, Alberta’s news release said.
