Collaborating on privacy is key to preserving trust and confidence in government systems

Harnessing the collective expertise and shared values of federal information and privacy professionals will be key to protecting and preserving the trust that Canadians hold in government institutions, programs, and services, today and for the future.

That was a key message from Privacy Commissioner Philippe Dufresne at an event that brought together government leaders from the Chief Information Officer (CIO) and Chief Privacy Officer (CPO) communities.

The aim of the Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada’s CIO-CPO Connect event was to encourage strengthened collaboration between these groups to better protect and promote the fundamental right to privacy.

“At a time where more data is being collected, shared, used, and stored online than ever before, it is essential that the information management, information technology, and privacy communities work together,” Commissioner Dufresne said in his opening remarks.

“This is because, in your roles, you are at the forefront of leading, developing, and safeguarding the government systems that hold Canadians’ sensitive personal information and serve Canadians through the public services and the government’s essential public interest work,” he said. “In this increasingly digital world, your collective expertise and shared values as public servants will be key to protecting and preserving the trust that Canadians hold in government institutions, programs, and services, knowing that their information is protected – today and for the future.”

The Commissioner also encouraged the privacy community to bring more options to the table when decisions are being made about on-boarding new technology.

The event featured a fireside chat between Commissioner Dufresne and Dominic Rochon, the Government of Canada’s Chief Information Officer and Deputy Minister at the Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat.

“Collaboration between information and privacy professionals is fundamental to maintaining Canadians’ trust in government systems,” said Deputy Rochon. “As we navigate an era where data and technology are evolving at unprecedented speeds, fostering strong relationships between these communities allows us to better anticipate challenges and protect personal information. By working together, we can build resilient, innovative systems that safeguard privacy while delivering high-quality services to Canadians.”

Deputy Rochon also recognized the importance of building relationships between the two groups as a way to build trust in public institutions, saying that information and privacy professionals have much to teach and to learn from each other.

A closer relationship between these groups is especially important with the advent of artificial intelligence, which he says will be incorporated into the vast majority of the apps that we use within the next few years. With privacy and information professionals working together we have a better chance of being ahead of the curve in understanding the implications for government and for the protection of Canadians’ personal information.

Further reading

Remarks by the Privacy Commissioner at the OPC CIO-CPO Connect event for federal privacy and information officers