|
BC Privacy Commissioner's Investigation, Report, and Recommendations
During the initial phase of the Right to Privacy Campaign (RPC), the announcement of an independent investigation into privacy and public sector outsourcing drew considerable approval from campaign supporters. Throughout the spring and summer months of 2004, the RPC produced and/or distributed various promotional materials to encourage organizations, groups, and individuals to prepare submissions for the Privacy Commissioner:
Request for Submissions to the BC Privacy Commissioner
Some Tips for Writing to the Privacy Commissioner
A complete list of submissions to the Privacy Commissioner on this issue can be viewed here. The following submissions provide multiple perspectives on privacy implications associated with outsourcing British Columbians' personal healthcare records:
- BC Medical Association (July 12)
- BC Persons With AIDS Society (July 14)
- BC Civil Liberties Association (August 6)
- BC Freedom of Information and Privacy Association and BC Coalition of People with Disabilities (August 6)
- Vancouver Public Library (August 6)
- BC Government and Service Employees' Union, Parts 1 and 2 (August 6)
The RPC openly endorsed the Privacy Commissioner's final report and its recommendations which were released October 20, 2004.
RPC Endorsement Re: Privacy Commissioner's Report
Petition to the BC Legislative Assembly
As the BC government disregarded messages of public disapproval and pursued its negotiations with MAXIMUS, Inc., the RPC circulated a formal petition opposing the contract. In just weeks, the campaign collected more than 39,000 signatures through print and online versions of its petition, which was subsequently presented to the BC Legislative Assembly.
Petition Against Contracting Out MSP and PharmaCare
Online Petition Against Contracting Out MSP and PharmaCare
Municipal Resolutions Opposing Public Sector Outsourcing
Since April 2004, close to 20 Municipalities in the province have passed resolutions, through their respective Councils, opposing the BC government's practice of outsourcing the management and administration of medical records by US controlled companies subject to the USA PATRIOT Act.
City of Vancouver Resolution
Burnaby Council Resolution
City of North Vancouver Resolution
Similar resolutions have been passsed by the following BC municipalities:
- Ashcroft
- Cowichan Valley Regional District
- Cranbrook
- District of Metchosin
- District of North Cowichan
- District of Sooke
- District of Ucluelet
- Fernie
- Fort St. James
- Lumby
- New Denver
- Prince Rupert
- Revelstoke
- View Royal
- Whistler
- Williams Lake
Lobbying Provincial Government Authorities
The RPC works with our supporting individuals and organizations to question, challenge, and lobby government authorities on privacy related issues. Below is a series of correspondence between the BC Persons With AIDS Society (BCPWA) and Premier Gordon Campbell from April/May, 2004. A more recent written exchange between the BCPWA Society and Joyce Murray, the Minister responsible for privacy, is also reproduced below.
BCPWA Letter 1 to Premier Re: Privacy (April 23/04)
Response from the Premier Re: Privacy (April 27/04)
BCPWA Letter 2 to Premier Re: Privacy (May 10/04)
BCPWA Letter to Joyce Murray (Feb 9/05)
Response from Joyce Murray (March 3/05)
|
