 Profile
As Information and Privacy Commissioner for the Canadian province of Ontario, Ann Cavoukian operates as an appointee of the provincial legislature. Serving independently of the government, she reviews new legislation and programs and offers comments based on access and privacy concerns. Among her key duties, Ms. Cavoukian oversees various organizations and ensures they comply with the access and privacy provisions of the Municipal Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act and the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act. The public can also turn to her to investigate access and privacy complaints and handle appeals when an organization refuses to provide access to information.
Through this role, which Ann Cavoukian will hold until 2014, she has involved herself in a number of important issues that affect Ontario citizens. In 2004, the government enacted the Personal Health Information Protection Act, which establishes limits on the collection, use, and disclosure of personal health information. Ms. Cavoukian’s office manages the implementation of the new law and individuals who believe that their rights have been violated can turn to her for assistance.
When the government attempted to pass the Adoption Information Disclosure Act, Ann Cavoukian argued against it. She favoured the inclusion of an amendment giving those biological parents and adoptees who completed the adoption process prior to the passage of the act a method for keeping their records sealed. Enacted without the disclosure veto, the bill was later declared unconstitutional by the Ontario Superior Court of Justice in violation of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. Soon afterward, the Ontario legislature developed a new version of the law that included Ms. Cavoukian’s suggested disclosure veto.
In the mid-2000s, Privacy International filed a formal complaint with Ann Cavoukian over the Toronto Transit Commission’s plans to expand its video surveillance unit. Ms. Cavoukian looked at all the changes to understand how they could affect privacy rights. While the new system complied with all applicable laws, she made 13 recommendations to the Toronto Transit Commission that they subsequently adopted.
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