By Andrew Shepherd

Update needed to Sask. privacy laws: commissioner

Jun 23, 2015 | 11:40 AM

Saskatchewan’s new privacy commissioner says it’s time to update our freedom of information and privacy laws.

“I came to the office with concerns that the legislation was getting seriously out of date,” said Ronald Kruzeniski on Monday.

In his first annual report as commissioner, Kruzeniski outlines 35 recommendations to bring the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (FOIP) and the Local Authority Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (LA FOIP) in line with other provinces like Alberta and Ontario.

Some of those proposed changes include making sure everyone is notified when their privacy is breached in a timely manner, involving the municipal police force in FOIP as a local authority, and merging the two acts into one to make it generally less confusing.

The report also shows the Ministry of Health isn’t always releasing information to the public in a timely manner. It failed to respond to five reports from the privacy commissioner within the required 30 days.

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“I’m quite concerned about it. I have received some assurances that it’s being worked on,” he said.

The report also states that 25 per cent of the time, public bodies gave no response to recommendations within the required time frame.
The NDP is using the report to back its argument that the government lacks transparency.

“I do not think Saskatchewan people want their government spending its time on taxpayers’ money playing games with public information. A government committed to transparency would make information accessible and be more proactive about releasing information,” said NDP justice critic John Nilson.

panews@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @Andrew5hepherd

by Andrew Shepherd

Update needed to Sask. privacy laws: commissioner

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