Protecting Privacy in the Digital Age

Bill C-290: The Public Sector Integrity Act, passed unanimously by the House of Commons, would make badly needed amendments to Canada’s deeply flawed whistleblower protection legislation, the Public Sector Disclosures Protection Act (PSDPA). In its submissions, CFE argues that C-290 offers an immediate opportunity to make some of the vital amendments essential for the PSDPA to be able to offer better protection for Canadian whistleblowers. Although arguing that much more needs to be done, the changes C-290 would introduce are necessary steps that must be taken now. The Backgrounder details the significant and wide-ranging problems that exist as a result of the inadequacies of the PSDPA.

In its rush to do, and to be seen to do, something about the very real problem of foreign interference, the House of Commons hurried through — in hours — a well-intentioned but deeply flawed Bill C-70: Countering Foreign Interference Act. Under enormous pressure, it appears the Senate will do likewise today.

In an open letter today to the members of the House of Commons Standing Committee on Public Safety and National Security, the Centre for Free Expression and 13 other civil society organizations expressed their deep concerns with the speed with which Bill C-70, the Countering Foreign Interference Act, is currently being rushed through the legislative process.