There's a smattering of news this week on a few fronts, so I'm not centering this on any particular theme. If you can find a common thread here, bonus for you.
It looks like we'll have to wait until the fall for the Standing Committee on Industry and Technology to begin its study of Bill C-27. According to a story in the Hill Times, the committee chair confirmed the group's unanimous decision not to start before the House rises for summer, given they expect the review to be quite in depth. Last week, I mentioned a handful of submissions and briefs that are already available online. Recently, the Canadian Anonymization Network made its proposed amendments public, with a focus, of course, on issues surrounding anonymization and deidentification.
Those of you who attended the IAPP Canada Privacy Symposium 2023 recently will remember Nova Scotia Information and Privacy Commissioner Tricia Ralph's excellent sense of humor during the Game Show, when bantering with her Newfoundland and Labrador counterpart, Michael Harvey. Commissioner Ralph must have her hands full this week, with the news of a major privacy breach in that province involving the government's use of a file transfer service.
Also this week, Ontario Information and Privacy Commissioner Patricia Kosseim released her latest annual report. It is full of updates on their work toward their four strategic priorities. They also use the occasion to call on the province to establish a framework for using artificial intelligence; emphasize that digital ID systems must be optional, accessible and privacy protective; ask for better privacy protections for employees; and reiterate the need for reforms to Ontario's health privacy law.
Lastly, let's congratulate Office of the Privacy Commissioner Deputy Commissioner Brent Homan, who will become the next Data Protection Commissioner of Guernsey in January 2023. It's great to see another Canadian on the privacy-world stage! Where will Homan curl, though, is an important question. I can't find any evidence of a curling club on the island, but it looks like there are a few in Normandy and maybe that's close enough. Folks, presumably, this means there may be an opportunity opening at some point to oversee investigations at the OPC, which could be quite interesting for some of you!
Anyway, on that note, I hope the air is clearing for everyone and you have a restful weekend to recharge.