News Release

Privacy Commissioner Welcomes Steps to Safeguard Voter Privacy

Ottawa, June 26, 2006 – Privacy Commissioner Jennifer Stoddart welcomes amendments to the Canada Elections Act that help safeguard the privacy of voter information and increase penalties for its misuse.

C-31: An Act to amend the Canada Elections Act and the Public Service Employment Act received Royal Assent on June 22, 2007. As passed by the House of Commons, C-31 would have authorized Elections Canada to release each voter’s date of birth to political parties and candidates during an election campaign, in addition to name and address.

During her appearance before the Senate Committee on Legal and Constitutional Affairs on May 17, 2007, Commissioner Stoddart questioned the need for this additional information. Her concern was whether it would truly protect the electoral process from voter fraud.

The Senate subsequently proposed to remove this section of C-31. The Senate’s proposal was adopted by the House of Commons.  Now, only Elections Canada officials will have access to a voter’s date of birth.

“Canadians expect that their personal information will be used carefully,” said Commissioner Stoddart. “As we all grow more concerned about identity fraud, the Government has a responsibility to release personal information only when absolutely necessary.”

The Commissioner also welcomed the decision to adopt her proposal to increase the penalty for misuse of personal information, to a maximum of $5000 or one year imprisonment or both (from $1000 or 3 months or both).

The Commissioner’s correspondence with the Leader of the Government in the House of Commons and the Clerk of the Standing Senate Committee on Legal and Constitutional Affairs is available at www.privcom.gc.ca/parl/index_2007_e.asp.

The Privacy Commissioner of Canada is mandated by Parliament to act as an ombudsman, advocate and guardian of privacy and the protection of personal information rights of Canadians.

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For more information, contact:

Colin Mckay
Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada
Tel: (613) 995-0103
E-mail: cmckay@privcom.gc.ca