Alberta’s New OIPC Commissioner

The Select Special Information and Privacy Commissioner Search Committee recommends the appointment of Diane McLeod as Alberta’s Information and Privacy Commissioner effective August 1, 2022.

The next time that you correspond with the AB OIPC office, make sure to change the following names in your templates:

Change the name of the outgoing Commissioner, Jill Clayton, and replace with the name of the new Commissioner, Diane McLeod.

More details are in the news release from the Office of the Information and Privacy Commissioner here.

What Does the Alberta OIPC Do?

The Commissioner is an agent of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta. This is not a government department nor is it a department under Alberta Health Services.

The mission of the Office of the Information and Privacy Commissioner of Alberta (OIPC) is to advocate for the access and privacy rights of Albertans, to ensure that public bodies, health custodians and private sector organizations uphold the access and privacy rights contained in the laws of Alberta, and to provide fair, independent and impartial reviews in a timely and efficient manner. OIPC of Alberta

There is a similar role in each of the provinces in Canada.

When to Contact the Alberta OIPC Commissioner

If you are in Alberta and you are a custodian (including physicians, dentists, chiropractor, podiatrist, optometrist, pharmacist, RN and others) you might need to contact the AB OIPC Commissioner in any one of these scenarios.

• You are submitting a new Privacy Impact Assessment.
• You have a change in custodians in your practice (a custodian moves, retires, or you add a new custodian to your practice.)
• You have experienced a privacy breach in your practice and must inform the Commissioner.

If you are a resident of Alberta, you might contact the Commissioner if

• You have a complaint about how a business manages your personal information. Ideally, you will bring your complaint to the privacy officer of the business first, before filing a complaint to the OIPC. Ideally, you will bring your complaint to the privacy officer of the business, first, before filing a complaint to the OIPC.

There are other situations that may arise that you may need to contact the OIPC. The Commissioner performs the responsibilities set out in Alberta’s three access to information and privacy laws:

• Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (FOIP)
• Health Information Act (HIA)
• Personal Information Protection Act (PIPA)

The Commissioner checks or regulates that the businesses to whom the above legislation (and others) apply works according to these laws.

The OIPC website has many resources and reports available to better understand your roles and responsibilities regarding the collection, use, access, and disclosure of personal information.

Do you have questions about privacy compliance and practice management at your healthcare business? I’m happy to help you!

Email Jean L. Eaton, Your Practical Privacy Coach and Practice Management Mentor to book a quick, 10-minute call with me.