Meeting of the Federal-Provincial-Territorial Information and Privacy Commissioners

For immediate release
October 29, 2014

Note:  The Ombudspersons and Commissioners  will be available for media interviews on Wednesday, October 29th from 10 am to  10:30 am ET at the Chateau Laurier, 1 Rideau Street, Ottawa

OTTAWA – Privacy and  Information Commissioners of Canada attending their annual meeting noted with  sadness last week’s events in Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu, Quebec, and in Ottawa,  Ontario. We join our voices to the thousands of Canadians in expressing our  condolences to the grieving families and friends of the fallen whose duty it  was to defend our rights and freedoms.

The  following days, weeks and months will be critical in determining the future  course of action to ensure not only that Canada remains a safe country, but  also that our fundamental rights and freedoms are upheld. Legislative changes  being contemplated may alter the powers of intelligence and law enforcement agencies.

We  acknowledge that security is essential to maintaining our democratic rights. At  the same time, the response to such events must be measured and proportionate,  and crafted so as to preserve our democratic values.

To that  end, the Privacy and Information Commissioners of Canada call on the federal  Government:

   
• To  adopt an evidence-based approach as to the need for any new legislative  proposal granting additional powers for intelligence and law enforcement  agencies;  
   
• To  engage Canadians in an open and transparent dialogue on whether new measures  are required, and if so, on their nature, scope, and impact on rights and  freedoms;
   
• To  ensure that effective oversight be included in any legislation establishing  additional powers for intelligence and law enforcement agencies.

Canadians both expect and are entitled to equal  protection for their privacy and access rights and for their security. We must  uphold these fundamental rights that lie at the heart of Canada’s democracy.

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The statement is available on the website of the Office of the  Privacy Commissioner of Canada (www.priv.gc.ca) and the Office of the Information Commissioner of Canada (www.oic-ci.gc.ca).

For more information or  interview requests:

Natalie Hall
Office of the Information  Commissioner of Canada
Natalie.Hall@oic-ci.gc.ca

Valerie Lawton
Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada
Valerie.Lawton@priv.gc.ca

To  contact provincial and territorial information and privacy Ombudspersons and  Commissioners, please see www.priv.gc.ca/resource/prov/index_e.asp.