They focused on key topics like AI in government services, data sovereignty, and privacy challenges
The Ontario Information and Privacy Commissioner (IPC) recently hosted a gathering of federal, provincial, and territorial (FPT) information and privacy commissioners and ombuds in Toronto.
The two-day annual FPT meeting centred on key privacy and access issues relevant to Canadians and promoted cooperation across various privacy and access authorities in Canada.
The event commenced with an opening tour of the City of Toronto archives, followed by a reception at Queen’s Park hosted by the Lieutenant Governor of Ontario, Edith Dumont. Dumont welcomed attendees from across Canada and set the tone for the meetings with her opening address.
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The first day’s sessions began with remarks from Chief Claire Sault of the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation. Her message emphasized building trust and engaging in meaningful dialogue with First Nations communities, which provided relevant cultural context for the following discussions.
Attendees also explored the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) in modernizing government services. Representatives from Ontario’s Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks presented initiatives using AI to streamline Freedom of Information (FOI) processes. This session highlighted the efforts to enhance transparency and access to government records.
A panel featuring legal experts from the University of Ottawa and Carleton University facilitated discussions on the cabinet confidence exception to access rights and recent developments in judicial review standards. Another session focused on the emerging field of neurotechnology, where Dr. Jennifer Chandler, Professor of Law at the University of Ottawa, examined privacy implications, ethical considerations, and the increasing international recognition of mental privacy rights.
Day two shifted focus to First Nations’ perspectives on data sovereignty. Dr. Jonathan Dewar, Chief Executive Officer of the First Nations Information Governance Centre, emphasized the importance of the OCAP (Ownership, Control, Access, and Possession) principles. Commissioners were urged to integrate these principles into their ongoing work.
The IPC’s Youth Advisory Council (YAC) shared their experiences and concerns regarding online privacy. Moderated by Professor Jane Bailey, the panel emphasized the need for public education policies to empower youth in navigating digital spaces.
“The annual meeting covered a well-balanced array of issues — both privacy and access-related, practical and conceptual, historical and future-oriented — and all from different cultural and age perspectives,” Kosseim said in a statement.
The meeting concluded with updates from FPT working groups on health data, digital identity, and legislative developments, providing an overview of Canada’s evolving privacy landscape. Reflecting on the gathering, Ontario IPC Patricia Kosseim expressed pride in the collaborative progress and praised her team’s professionalism in hosting the meeting.
