That is an excellent question.
Since the beginning of my term, the questions I have been asked about information sharing have often had to do with police forces or national security. However, you are quite right to look at the situation more broadly.
The government has initiatives to increase information sharing among departments, in part to improve program effectiveness. That is a legitimate and commendable goal. I think that the purpose of the Privacy Act is not to prevent that kind of activity, but to regulate the sharing of personal information in order to ensure that Canadians' privacy is respected.
For example, when I recommend that there be written agreements for information sharing, I recognize that information may be shared to achieve commendable and legitimate goals. However, it is also important to have rules to govern and protect privacy.