Evidence of meeting #2 for Access to Information, Privacy and Ethics in the 42nd Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was lobbying.
A video is available from Parliament.
10:15 a.m.
Privacy Commissioner of Canada, Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada
We try to be as effective as possible with the resources that we have. I would mention two factors.
I mentioned in my remarks that the rapid evolution of technology is characterized by some as a fourth industrial revolution. A lot of companies and departments are collecting and sharing information with new technology, and they are developing new programs and new business models all the time. We have problems keeping up with this. That is point one.
Point two is that we've done some public opinion surveys on what Canadians think in terms of privacy protection. Consistently an extremely high proportion of people, 90% in the last poll, said they were very concerned about their privacy protection and their loss of control over their personal information. The vast majority of people are unaware of what to do to protect themselves and to protect their privacy. We're doing what we can, but we're having difficulty in keeping up with companies in particular, and we would like to do much more to help Canadians understand the reality of the new technologies so they can participate more confidently in the digital economy.
10:15 a.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Blaine Calkins
Okay.
I have one last question for each of you, using my prerogative as chair.
As soon as this part of the meeting is done, we'll be discussing our future agenda. Each of you has outlined your priorities as to what the committee could be doing to assist you with your work. I'm going to ask each of you, if you don't mind—and if you're not comfortable, you don't have to answer—if you had a number one priority this committee could work on to assist you and your department, what would that number one priority be?
I'm going to let each of you think about it for a second, and then whoever wants to answer may do so. Don't feel obligated to answer if you don't want to.
Go ahead, Ms. Legault.
10:15 a.m.
Information Commissioner of Canada, Office of the Information Commissioner of Canada
That's easy, because I only presented one priority in my remarks, so I will reiterate it.
I think the time has come to modernize the Access to Information Act. It's a great opportunity, and by the way, 2016 is the international year of access to information. We are celebrating the 250th anniversary of the first freedom of information law in the world in Sweden. It's a great year, a great opportunity, and great timing, and we have done a lot of work collectively to propose proper recommendations for a reform.
10:15 a.m.
Commissioner of Lobbying, Office of the Commissioner of Lobbying
I continue to believe that Canada has one of most robust models in the world when it comes to lobbying, but as I said in my opening remarks and during the review of the legislation, I think one of things that would help in terms of giving greater flexibility is a review of the administrative monetary penalties.
Right now the commissioner operates between educating and monitoring on the one hand to referrals to the RCMP involving fines and jail terms or reports to Parliament on the other hand. I think there could be some things in between to provide more of a continuum of appropriate sanctions for the alleged breach.
10:15 a.m.
Privacy Commissioner of Canada, Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada
A number of subjects have been mentioned today, such as encryption and so on. These are good subjects for you to look at, but I'll mention something that may be less obvious.
The Privacy Act also is antiquated. It dates from 1983, and technology obviously has changed a whole lot since 1983. This act is no longer able to deal with the realities of 2016. Over the years, the Office of the Privacy Commissioner has made a number of recommendations. They are available on our website to be looked at, and I would be happy to speak to you about reform of the Privacy Act.
10:20 a.m.
Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner, Office of the Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner
I listed five or six in my speaking notes that I thought were the major requests, but if I had to pick one of them, I would say enhancing reporting requirements. I would extend it to some extent to the public office holders, as opposed to just the reporting public office holders, and I would also establish some post-employment reporting requirements in that year where there are some rules.
10:20 a.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Blaine Calkins
Thank you very much.
On behalf of my colleagues around the table, we thank each of you for taking time out of your busy schedules to come here. It is not common to have all four commissioners before this committee at the same time. This was a rare opportunity, and we look forward to a future opportunity when we can.
We wish you the best as you continue to do the great work you do on behalf of Canadians. We thank you very much for coming today.
We'll now go in camera to discuss committee business.
[Proceedings continue in camera]