While outside the jurisdiction of this Office, there are other laws that deal with access to information and privacy.
These laws include Newfoundland and Labrador’s Privacy Act, as well as three federal statutes: the Access to Information Act (overseen by the Information Commissioner of Canada), the Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act (PIPEDA), and the Privacy Act (the two latter both overseen by the Privacy Commissioner of Canada).
Newfoundland and Labrador’s Privacy Act creates a tort of violation of privacy. Individuals must pursue the rights created under this Act in a court of law and there is no oversight office.
The federal Access to Information Act provides a right of access to information in records under the control of federal government institutions in order to enhance their accountability and transparency, and to promote an open and democratic society.
PIPEDA applies to private-sector organizations across Canada that collect, use, or disclose personal information in the course of a commercial activity. It also covers the employees of federally-regulated organizations that conduct business in Canada. PIPEDA applies to how organizations collect, use, disclose, and safeguard personal information. It establishes the right of access to personal information that organizations hold, as well as the right to challenge the accuracy of personal information.
The federal Privacy Act establishes citizens’ privacy rights in interactions with the federal government. It applies to how the government collects, uses, discloses, and safeguards personal information. The Act also establishes the right of access to personal information held by the federal government, with limited exceptions.