Info Matters

In this special retrospective episode of Info Matters, Commissioner, Patricia Kosseim revisits season four’s standout conversations. Highlights include junior high students' views on privacy, Cynthia Khoo on facial recognition, and Robert Fabes on how people experiencing homelessness perceive privacy. Dr. Devin Singh explores AI in health care, while Priya Shastri from WomanAct discusses information sharing in safety planning for survivors of intimate partner violence. The episode also covers the use of digital educational tools in the classroom, mediation in access appeals at the IPC, a conversations about the IPC’s Transparency Showcase, and IPC health privacy cases involving cyber attacks and abandoned records. -- Dans cet épisode spécial de L’info, ça compte, la commissaire Patricia Kosseim présente une rétrospective de ses entretiens marquants de la quatrième saison. De jeunes élèves du secondaire font part de leur opinion sur la protection de la vie privée, Cynthia Khoo parle de reconnaissance faciale et Robert Fabes nous dit ce que les personnes en situation d’itinérance pensent de la vie privée. Le Dr Devin Singh discute de l’IA dans les soins de santé, et Priya Shastri de WomanAct traite de la communication de renseignements afin de planifier la sécurité des survivantes de violence conjugale. Cet épisode aborde également le recours aux outils éducatifs numériques en classe, la médiation dans les appels de décisions relatives à l’accès à l’information au CIPVP, la Vitrine de la transparence du CIPVP et des affaires dont le CIPVP a été saisi concernant des cyberattaques et des dossiers abandonnés dans le secteur de la santé.

Digital technologies, including artificial intelligence, are transforming education at a rapid pace, raising critical questions about students’ learning experiences, privacy, and well-being. Anthony Carabache, a staff officer in the Professional Development Department at the Ontario English Catholic Teachers’ Association, sheds light on the opportunities and challenges for educators adopting technology in the classroom. ---- Les technologies numériques, dont l’intelligence artificielle, transforment rapidement le monde de l’éducation et soulèvent des questions épineuses sur l’expérience d’apprentissage, la vie privée et le bien-être des élèves. Anthony Carabache, du service de perfectionnement professionnel de l’Ontario English Catholic Teachers’ Association, jette un éclairage sur les avantages et les écueils des technologies pour les pédagogues qui les utilisent en classe.

In this special episode, we shine a light on the innovative projects submitted by Ontario’s public institutions as part of the IPC’s Transparency Challenge 2.0. Commissioner Kosseim is joined by three inspiring teams who share real-world examples of open government and transparency in action. Steve Orsini and Josh Lovell from the Council of Ontario Universities discuss their open data platform. Mike Melinyshyn and Damien Mainprize from the Town of Innisfil reveal how their technology in public spaces project fosters community engagement through icons and QR codes. Andrea Roberts from the Ontario Ministry of the Environment, Conservation, and Parks explains how the ministry is using creative solutions to accelerate the FOI process and make it easier for the public to access environmental property records. -- Dans cet épisode spécial, nous jetons un éclairage sur les projets novateurs qu’ont présentés des institutions publiques ontariennes dans le cadre du Défi de la transparence 2.0 du CIPVP. La commissaire Kosseim reçoit trois équipes inspirantes qui font part d’exemples concrets du gouvernement ouvert et de la transparence à l’œuvre. Steve Orsini et Josh Lovell du Conseil des universités de l’Ontario parlent de leur plateforme de données ouvertes. Mike Melinyshyn et Damien Mainprize de la ville d’Innisfil décrivent comment leur projet sur la technologie dans les lieux publics favorise l’engagement communautaire au moyen d’icônes et de codes QR. Andrea Roberts du ministère de l’Environnement, de la Protection de la nature et des Parcs de l’Ontario explique comment le ministère mise sur des solutions créatives pour accélérer le processus d’accès à l’information et faciliter l’accès du public aux dossiers environnementaux concernant les biens immobiliers.

Timely information sharing is crucial to prevent harm resulting from intimate partner violence (IPV). Sometimes, however, professionals may hesitate to share information due to misunderstandings about privacy laws. Priya Shastri, Director of Programs at WomanAct, provides insights from the front lines on information sharing, building trusting relationships with victims and survivors, and taking a collaborative, trauma informed approach to combatting IPV. The information, opinions, and recommendations presented in this podcast are for general information only. It should not be relied upon as a substitute for legal advice. Unless specifically stated otherwise, the IPC does not endorse, approve, recommend, or certify any information, product, process, service, or organization presented or mentioned in this podcast, and information from this podcast should not be used or reproduced in any way to imply such approval or endorsement. None of the information, opinions and recommendations presented in this podcast bind the IPC’s Tribunal that may be called upon to independently investigate and decide upon an individual complaint or appeal based on the specific facts and unique circumstances of a given case.

Most of us take our government issued ID for granted. If we lose it, it’s a minor inconvenience. But for people experiencing homelessness, not having valid ID or a fixed address to obtain these documents is a much more serious challenge. Robert Fabes of The Ottawa Mission shares insights on the barriers people experiencing homelessness face and how to provide access to essential services while respecting their privacy and dignity.

Info Matters kicks off its fourth season with a unique twist, handing the microphone over to Grade 7 and 8 students from Westboro Academy in Ottawa. They share insights on what privacy means to them, how they navigate digital spaces, and what parents, educators, and regulators can do to support their digital literacy. And their school principal joins the conversation too!

Networked spaces provide countless opportunities for young people to connect and share ideas and information like never before. But for young women and girls, the online world can be an unfriendly place, fueling self consciousness, self doubt, and fear. University of Ottawa professors Jane Bailey and Valerie Steeves speak about the eQuality project. Its mission is to help young people create a networked environment where they can participate equally, free from surveillance, and identity-based harassment.

It takes years to build trust in an organization, yet only seconds to bring it all crashing down. Cyber criminals are constantly finding new ways to steal sensitive data and make money from it. Jason Besner, Director of Partnerships at the Canadian Centre for Cyber Security, sheds light on the fast-changing digital landscape and provides practical tips for organizations and individuals to protect themselves against cyberattacks.

Engaging with patients, families, and caregivers can help build a better, more inclusive health system. Betty-Lou Kristy, Chair of the Minister’s Patient and Family Advisory Council, speaks about her mission to improve patient care in Ontario by putting patients and families at the center of policy-making. Through their lived experiences in the health system, they work to break down barriers and help build Ontarians’ trust that their data privacy and access rights will be respected. -- S'engager avec les patients, les familles et les soignants peut aider à construire un système de santé meilleur et plus inclusif. Betty-Lou Kristy, présidente du Conseil consultatif ministériel pour des patients et des familles, parle de sa mission qui consiste à améliorer les soins aux patients en Ontario en plaçant les patients et les familles au centre de l'élaboration des politiques. Grâce à leurs expériences vécues dans le système de santé, ils s'efforcent de démonter les barrières et d'aider les Ontariens à avoir confiance que leurs droits en matière de confidentialité des données et d'accès à celles-ci seront respectés. The information, opinions, and recommendations presented in this podcast are for general information only. It should not be relied upon as a substitute for legal advice. Unless specifically stated otherwise, the IPC does not endorse, approve, recommend, or certify any information, product, process, service, or organization presented or mentioned in this podcast, and information from this podcast should not be used or reproduced in any way to imply such approval or endorsement. None of the information, opinions and recommendations presented in this podcast bind the IPC’s Tribunal that may be called upon to independently investigate and decide upon an individual complaint or appeal based on the specific facts and unique circumstances of a given case.

Listen to Commissioners Kosseim and Dufresne speak candidly about some of the challenges and opportunities they face and potential areas for collaboration between their offices. Bilingual episode in English and French.

While it may sound like science fiction, it’s actually happening today. Law enforcement organizations are using data to predict criminal activity before it occurs. Though predictive policing could make crime reduction more efficient, it also raises real risks to privacy and other human rights. Dr. Christopher Parsons, former associate at the University of Toronto’s Citizen Lab and now Senior Technology Advisor at the IPC, talks about some of those risks and how they can be mitigated.

Strategic foresight is a discipline used by a growing body of experts and organizations. It is a structured and systematic way of gathering information about future operating environments to better prepare for change and make smarter decisions. In this episode, Commissioner Kosseim speaks with the IPC’s Eric Ward, Assistant Commissioner of Strategic Initiatives and External Relations, about how strategic foresight can be used to anticipate and address emerging data issues in Ontario.