Ontario IPC seeks feedback for strategic priority setting

▤ Summary

The IPC is seeking feedback on how to focus its efforts and resources so it can create more specific research projects, guidelines and educational materials, and also concentrate on proactively advocating for certain issues. The IPC will need to focus on addressing issues that are most pressing for Ontarians, that advance Ontario’s access and privacy laws, and that can realistically make improvements with respect to each strategic priority considering its mandate, strengths, and resources. This is significant because individuals need to be given access to the non-identifiable information that they need so they can have the ability to hold their governments to account, express views, and make decisions and choices that form the cornerstone of our democracy • Responsible use of data for good: the IPC will convene and work with relevant partners to develop governance frameworks that support the responsible use of data for innovative and socially beneficial purposes. This is critical since, in order to unleash the full potential of data needed to help solve some of society’s most pressing problems, appropriate governance frameworks need to be in place to ensure the responsible use of that data • Access, privacy, and youth: the IPC will champion the access and privacy rights of Ontario’s children and youth, helping them to exercise their independence, protect themselves, and make informed choices about their personal information. This is critical because we need to have trust in how our personal health data are processed when increasing adoption of digital health technologies and ultimately improving health care outcomes for individuals and across populations In addition to the above-mentioned potential strategic priorities, there will also be an examination of some cross-cutting approaches that could be applied across all strategic priorities to further enhance the impact of the IPC’s work: • Accessibility and equity: the IPC will apply the dual lens of accessibility and equity to its evaluation of programs and technologies related to its priorities, as well to its own services and processes • Capacity building (internal and external): the IPC will continue to develop its internal capacity by enhancing staff training and gathering knowledge through engagement with diverse stakeholders; continue to educate organizations on how they can practically comply with their privacy and access obligations; support research into privacy-enhancing technologies and other advances in access and privacy, including by creating pathways for researchers to show the practical impacts of their work; and continue to empower individuals to exercise control over their own information and demand greater transparency with respect to information held and used by governments • Visionary but pragmatic: the IPC will ensure that its work on strategic priorities is visionary, considering the full range of potential future paths; draw from the experiences of other jurisdictions and evolving international data privacy norms for new technologies; and identify intermediate steps along those paths at which practical advice and guidance can be created • Collaboration and consultation: the IPC will commit to seek out collaborations with relevant stakeholders across sectors when advancing its strategic priorities; coordinate its efforts with other regulatory bodies, including data commissioners and human rights regulators; and consult with a range of stakeholders to ensure a holistic approach that reflects multiple perspectives and advances the IPC’s work, in the interest of all Ontarians View the consultation paper for details regarding each proposed strategic priority, some of which include the work that the IPC has done so far in each area, ideas for building on this work, further resources, and the particular questions relating to each strategic priority.

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