Privacy Act

A few recent announcements from the Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada

March 2, 2020 Christina Catenacci Human Resources, Privacy and Security, 0

February was a noteworthy month in privacy – the Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada made some announcements that we should pay attention to.

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Privacy Commissioner of Canada releases its annual report

January 6, 2020 Christina Catenacci Human Resources, Privacy and Security, 0

On December 10, 2019, the Privacy Commissioner Canada released its Annual 2018–2019 Report to Parliament on the Privacy Act and the Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act (PIPEDA).

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PHIPA fines in the workplace

August 16, 2017 Lisa Stam, Spring Law HR Policies and Procedures, Human Resources, Privacy and Security

This spring the largest penalty to date was issued under Ontario’s Personal Health Information Protection Act (PHIPA). A social work student was convicted of accessing personal health information without authorization, and ordered pay a $20,000 fine and a $5,000 victim fine surcharge.

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Health record snooping nets hefty fine

May 23, 2017 Employer Advisor, McCarthy Tétrault LLP Employee Relations, HR Policies and Procedures, Human Resources, Privacy and Security, Union Relations

In a recent case out of Goderich, Ontario a $20,000 fine, the highest of its kind in Canada, was handed out for a health privacy violation.

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Genetic non-discrimination: Update on Bill S-201

August 4, 2016 Christina Catenacci Employee Relations, Employment/Labour Standards, HR Policies and Procedures, Human Resources, Human Rights, Privacy and Security, Union Relations

Bill S-201 would prohibit any person from requiring an individual to undergo a genetic test as a condition of: providing goods or services to that individual; entering into or continuing a contract or agreement with that individual; or offering or continuing specific terms or conditions in a contract or agreement with that individual. Those who contravene the rules would be subject to severe penalties.

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Three popular articles this week on HRinfodesk

April 28, 2016 Cristina Lavecchia Employee Relations, Employment/Labour Standards, Government Budgets, Throne Speeches and Plans, Health and Safety, HR Policies and Procedures, Human Resources, Payroll, Pensions and Benefits, Privacy and Security, Wages and Compensation

The three popular articles this week on HRinfodesk deal with: An employee’s complaint regarding video surveillance cameras pointed toward her work area without the employer informing her of the installation; an FAQ that looks at an employer’s overpayment of vacation pay on a former employee’s final pay; and the Ontario Ministry of Labour’s plan to conduct targeted employment standards and occupational health and safety blitzes in workplaces across the province over the next year.

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Privacy Commissioner releases annual report regarding portable storage devices

December 17, 2015 Christina Catenacci Employee Relations, HR Policies and Procedures, Human Resources, Privacy and Security

On December 10, 2015, the Privacy Commissioner of Canada released an annual report to Parliament highlighting a result of an audit of the government’s management of portable storage devices and reported data breaches.

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