Ontario embraces world-class standard of privacy protection

Commissioner Cavoukian and the Ontario Public Service launch the new Privacy by Design Centre of Excellence

TORONTO, April 15, 2013 /CNW/ - Ontario's Information and Privacy Commissioner, Dr. Ann Cavoukian, today introduced an information centre designed to further educate and advise members of the Ontario Public Service (OPS) on the best privacy practices, thus ensuring excellence in the protection of personal information.

The Privacy by Design Centre of Excellence is a joint project between the Office of Information and Privacy Commissioner and the Ministry of Government Services (MGS). This new centre will further engrain a culture of privacy offered as the default, in all new and existing Ontario government programs. It provides tips and guidance into best practices for privacy protection, as well as educational materials and additional resources. Example materials include white papers and case studies from various sectors including telecommunications, technology, healthcare, transportation, and energy. The centre is a resource for the numerous professionals in the Ontario Public Service responsible for project design, information management, architecture management, and customer service in a broad array of institutions ranging from provincial agencies to municipal boards and commissions, to police service boards, to school boards and many more.

Quick Facts:

• The Privacy by Design Centre of Excellence will provide resources and guidance to more than 65,000 OPS members.
• MGS promotes excellence in information management practices in Ontario government ministries and agencies. The ministry provides strategic leadership to the OPS for a wide range of information management related activities including planning, policy and standards development.
• Privacy by Design is an actionable framework that was developed by the Information and Privacy Commissioner of Ontario, Dr. Ann Cavoukian. It seeks to proactively embed privacy into the design specifications of information technologies, organizational practices and networked system architectures.
• Privacy by Design was unanimously approved as an international framework for privacy protection in 2010 and has since been translated into more than 30 official languages!

Quotes:
"In an ever-changing world of emerging technologies, the right to privacy is more important than ever. We must remain vigilant in the protection of privacy, the bedrock of our freedoms. The new Privacy by Design Centre of Excellence will ensure that Ontario continues to be a world leader in government service and the protection of personal information."
Dr. Ann Cavoukian
Information and Privacy Commissioner of Ontario

"The Privacy by Design Centre of Excellence reaffirms the Ontario government's deep commitment to privacy protection. I commend Dr. Cavoukian for her vision in conceiving of this unique partnership between her office and the government of Ontario and for her leadership in making it a reality."
Harinder Takhar
Minister of Government Services

"The Centre of Excellence demonstrates the Ontario Public Service's enormous commitment to the protection of privacy. The actionable steps of the Privacy by Design framework will encourage all Ontario Public Service representatives to get further engaged in the implementation of strong privacy practices."
David Nicholl
Chief Information Officer, Government of Ontario

Editor's Note: This morning, Commissioner Cavoukian will be delivering a keynote speech discussing this initiative.  Media are welcome to attend.  Information on the event is here: http://www.newswire.ca/en/story/1144457/media-advisory-commissioner-cavoukian-to-launch-joint-initiative-to-strengthen-ontario-s-protection-of-privacy

SOURCE: Office of the Information and Privacy Commissioner/Ontario

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