The First Canadian Court decision considering Privacy laws vs Political Parties

May 14, 2024

For years, and despite the advice of Ethics and Parliamentary Committees, Politicians have exempted Political Parties from Privacy Laws. In 2018 an obscure law was passed that gave the Chief Electoral Officer of Canada (CEOC) the authority to review the privacy policies of political parties. In 2022 the Office of the Information Privacy Commissioner for BC (OIPC) made a ruling that its Act (PIPA) was applicable to political parties.

There’s a great quote at the beginning of this decision: “The ability of an individual to control their personal information is intimately connected to their individual autonomy, dignity and privacy. These fundamental values lie at the heart of democracy. The Supreme Court of Canada has, on many occasions, emphasized the importance of privacy, and its role in protecting one’s physical and moral autonomy. The harm that may flow from incursions into a person’s privacy interests should not go without a remedy. Legislation which aims to protect control over personal information plays an important role in the preservation of a free and democratic society:”

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