REPORT ON THE PROCEEDINGS OF THE WORKSHOP ON SECURITY LAWS AND PRIVACY:  STRIKING THE BALANCE

SECURITY LAWS AND PRIVACY:  STRIKING THE BALANCE

Presented Monday, October  20, 2003

Introduction, documentation follows:

Security of the state has become a critical issue in the past two years as many nations develop strong legal and policy measures to fight the war on terrorism. Canadians recognize that security is necessary in our current environment but in the rush of governments to pass new legislation and amend existing laws in order to fight this new threat, Canadians are showing that they also want to ensure essential privacy rights are kept in place. A number of measures, both implemented and proposed, have resulted in a sense of uncertainty about where we might be going and how these measures could possibly impact on fundamental freedoms. Among others, these measures include: the proposal for a National Identity card, the tracking of travelers from abroad and of Canadians returning from foreign travel with information on an individual’s travel for six years, the airlines passing passenger information to governments, proposals to require Internet service providers to pass on information to law enforcement. There is a tension between a need to develop effective security measures while maintaining privacy mechanisms. 

It is recognized that security is essential in our new environments. The challenge is to strike a balance between the demands of national security and upholding the basic rights that citizens in many countries have come to expect. The Federal Privacy Commissioner and many provincial privacy commissioners have spoken out on these issues. These are matters for national and international debate and this seminar offers such a forum. 

This one-day session will bring together speakers from the security and privacy communities. Experts from the Canadian government and the private sector will talk about current and proposed legislation, and the technologies that have come into play in the past two years that are enhancing security. Experts from the governments of Australia, Canada, the United Kingdom, and the United States will debate how the right balance may be found to ensure good security measures while retaining the essentials of privacy, and how these balances should be structured. Privacy experts and advocates will discuss the potential impact on privacy and how these changes will affect society. 

There will be informative and robust discussion from all aspects of the spectrum, and opportunities for those in attendance to pose questions and engage in the debate. 

Co-Sponsored by:  Commonwealth Centre for e-Governance and Industry Canada

Schedule of the  Seminar and Training Session. 
SECURITY LAWS AND PRIVACY:  STRIKING THE BALANCE
Monday, October 20, 2003
Westin Hotel, 11 Colonel By Drive, Ottawa

Highlights from the October 20, 2003 Seminar and Training Session

Keynote Address: (awaiting translation)
Bill Pentney, Senior General Counsel, Justice Canada

Presentation by Michael Turner (awaiting confirmation)
Michael Turner, ADM, Telecommunications and Informatics Policy Branch, Public Works and Government Services Canada (security)

AmikaNow! and Email Compliance (PDF)
Suhayya Abu-Hakima, President/CEO, AmikaNow! Corporation, Ottawa

A case Study: Privacy Vs. Security (PowerPoint)
Eloise Gratton, Attorney, MENDELSOHN, Montreal, Quebec

Living With Privacy & Security Legislation (PowerPoint)
Francis Aldhouse, Deputy Information Commissioner, UK