Canada Privacy Act Overhaul Proposed

The Canada — Government of Canada, led by the Canada — Liberal Party of Canada, is proposing a significant overhaul of the Privacy Act, which has remained largely unchanged since 1983. The proposed changes aim to make it easier for federal agencies to share and reuse Canadians' personal data with each other and with provincial, territorial, or municipal partners, without explicit consent, to improve services and programs. This would be subject to conditions such as data limitation, least invasive methods, and strong safeguards. Concurrently, the government seeks to bolster privacy protections by recognizing privacy as a fundamental right, requiring privacy impact assessments for programs using personal data for decisions, and enshrining the obligation to notify individuals of data breaches. Furthermore, the proposals address the increasing use of artificial intelligence and automated decision systems, requiring institutions to explain how these systems support decisions and what personal data is used, and allowing for human review. The Canada — Government of Canada also plans to streamline access to information requests by incorporating personal data requests into the Access to Information Act. Special consideration is given to Indigenous peoples in Canada, aiming to support their self-determination regarding their data. Public feedback is being collected until July 10, with further consultations planned.