Policy and Promotion Sector

Policy and Promotion Sector Profile

Deputy Commissioner: Gregory Smolynec

• Gregory Smolynec has been with the OPC and has served as Deputy Commissioner of the Policy and Promotion Sector since 2018.

Executive Assistant: Roselight Kanakabami

Personnel

• Total FTEs: 86
  • Deputy Commissioner’s Office
    • 1 EX-03 (Deputy Commissioner)
    • 2 AS-03 (Executive Assistant)
    • 1 EC-05 (Business Intelligence Officer)
  • Sector: 83

• Vacant FTEs:
  • Deputy Commissioner’s Office: 0
  • Sector: 9

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Deputy Commissioner, Policy and Promotion [EX-03], Gregory Smolynec

• Executive Director, Communications [EX-02], David Gamble
• Executive Director, Policy, Research and Parliamentary Affairs [EX-02], Lara Ives
• Director, Government Advisory [EX-01], Lacey Batalov (note 1: on leave) (note 2: replaced by Alexandra Foster acting)
• Director, Business Advisory [EX-01], Abubakar Khan
• Director, Technology Analysis [EX-01], Martyn Turcotte
• Business Intelligence Officer and Strategic Advisor [EC-05], Daphné Rodgers

Role

• The Policy and Promotion Sector aims to inform Canadians of their privacy rights and how to exercise them, and to guide and engage with organizations regarding compliance with their privacy obligations.

Key Activities

• The key activities of this sector are intended to bring departments and organizations towards compliance with the law.
• Key functions of directorates in the Sector include:
• Working with industry and government institutions proactively and collaboratively in an advisory capacity;
• Undertaking research into privacy issues and the impacts of technology on privacy and the protection of personal information;
• Developing strategic policy positions and conducting technological analysis;
• Promoting public awareness and understanding of privacy issues through the development and promotion of practical information and guidance;
• Advising parliamentarians on proposed legislation and studies on issues affecting the privacy rights of Canadians; and
• Activities related to the production and dissemination of information for Canadians and organizations such as media monitoring and analysis, public opinion polling, media relations, publications, special events, various outreach campaigns, the OPC web site and Information Centre.

Priorities

• 2022-2023 Operational Plan

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Communications Directorate

Executive Director: David Gamble

• David Gamble joined the OPC as Executive Director of the Communications Directorate in November 2019.

Personnel

• Total FTEs: 28
  • 1 EX-02
  • 1 EX-01
  • 1 AS-02
  • 1 AS-01
  • 1 IS-06
  • 7 IS-05
  • 5 IS-04
  • 3 IS-03
  • 1 PM-05
  • 2 PM-04
  • 5 PM-03
• Vacant FTEs: 
  • 1 IS-04
  • 1 PM-03

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Executive Director, Communications [EX-02], David Gamble

• Director, Strategic Communications [EX-01], Valerie Lawton
• Manager [IS-06], Sophie Boisvert
• Manager [PM-05], Gabriel Riverin Gaudreau

Role

• The Communications Directorate provides communications services and advice to all parts of the OPC with the goal of increasing awareness and understanding of the right to privacy by explaining to individuals, business and government communities the role and activities of the OPC as a regulator.
• The Directorate manages the OPC’s mandated public education function under PIPEDA to inform individuals and organizations of their privacy rights and responsibilities.
• Currently in development is the drafting and implementing of communications plans for individuals, business and Government of Canada stakeholders. These plans are based on discussions with OPC colleagues, a review of the OPC enforcement activities, as well as a review the public environment, including public opinion research. 
• The Communications Directorate is also responsible for linguistic services, comprising both translation and editing, for the entire OPC and through the Information Centre.
• The Directorate runs the Information Centre, which manages public inquiries via a toll-free telephone information line and on-line questionnaire.

Key Activities

• Creating products ranging from traditional news releases and fact sheets to instructional videos aimed at Canadians, businesses and federal public servants designed to increase awareness of OPC activities as well as privacy rights and responsibilities.
• Drafting the Commissioner’s speeches, with the exception of opening statements to parliamentary committees, which is the responsibility of Parliamentary Affairs.
• Coordinating both media responses and public inquiries (Info-Centre) and providing and distributing a daily news clippings package to OPC employees.
• Maintaining responsibility for the OPC’s social media presence, drafting of the OPC Annual Report to Parliament, and maintaining the OPC website and its intranet site as key vehicles for reaching external and internal audiences.
• In Fiscal Year 2021-2022, Communications managed 7,494 information requests from individuals; distributed 1,021 publications; prepared 155 media responses; published 39 news releases; and drafted 34 speeches/presentations. There were also 3.2 million website visits, and over 24,000 blog visits.

Priorities

• Preparing for law reform by modernizing the Communication Directorate’s structure, processes and procedures. This includes an ongoing program to remove redundant and obsolete content from the website in anticipation of its eventual redesign to reflect changes in the OPC mandate. This work is ongoing.
• Leading the drafting of the Fiscal Year 2021-2022 Annual Report to Parliament.
• [Redacted]
• Continuing modernization and renewal of the OPC’s Linguistic Services function. This includes publishing services standards and replacing its inefficient processing system. The Directorate is experiencing a period of renewal and change. This work is ongoing, and the Directorate expects to fill most of its staffing vacancies, including two senior French editors, by the end of June 2022.
• Preparing the OPC’s Public Opinion Research - Survey of Canadians, to be conducted in the third quarter of Fiscal Year 2022-2023 (Explore privacy research). Businesses and Canadians are surveyed on an alternating basis every two years, and the results are published annually. Communications consults with OPC colleagues on trends and activities that merit research, then develops the survey with an outside public opinion research firm that is ultimately approved by the Commissioner. This work will take place in late September/Early October.

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Policy, Research and Parliamentary Affairs Directorate

Executive Director: Lara Ives

• Lara Ives has been the Executive Director of Policy, Research and Parliamentary Affairs for over three years, and with the OPC since 2007.

Personnel

• Total FTEs: 23
  • 1 EX-02
  • 1 AS-02
  • 5 EC-07
  • 11 EC-06
  • 4 EC-05
  • 1 EC-04
• Vacant FTEs:
  • 0 vacancies

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Executive Director, Policy, Research and Parliamentary Affairs [EX-02], Lara Ives

• Manager [EC-07], François Cadieux
• Manager [EC-07], Danièle Chatelois
• Manager [EC-07], Leslie Fournier-Dupelle
• Manager [EC-07], Daphne Guerrero
• Manager [EC-07], Melanie Millar-Chapman (note: on leave)

Role

• The Policy, Research and Parliamentary Affairs Directorate (PRPA) provides policy analysis and expertise to support the Privacy Commissioner’s role in advising Members of Parliament in the review of evolving legislation or studies related to privacy.
• PRPA responds to inquiries of Parliamentarians seeking information and guidance, and takes proactive steps to inform them of emerging privacy issues.
• PRPA also promotes public awareness and compliance, and fosters understanding of privacy rights and obligations, amongst the general public and organizations based on research, guidance, and strategic policy analysis.

Key Activities

• Maintaining expertise and knowledge about emerging privacy issues in Canada and internationally, and developing strategic policy positions on legislative bills, regulatory proposals, government policies.
• Supporting the Commissioner’s appearances before Parliament through the development of submissions, statements, and supporting material.
• Conducting applied research, develops guidance, and administering consultations on emerging privacy issues in support of this work.
• Managing the OPC Contributions Program.
• Cooperating with international counterparts to leverage resources, and developing common policy positions and sharing best practices.
• Coordinating international work across the OPC, which maintains a presence on over eight international fora, and seven forum working groups.
• Preparing the Commissioner, and other senior officials, when attending international fora meetings or Federal/Provincial/Territorial (FPT) meetings, and providing support for the adoption of joint resolutions and statements at these meetings.
• Supporting other OPC functions and activities with the provision of policy advice such as in relation to investigations and providing business and government advisory services, and in responding to media requests.

Priorities

• Key priorities include: PIPEDA Reform, Privacy Act Reform, Digital Government and Digital ID, Biometrics Guidance, and recently published Facial Recognition Technology Guidance and Statement.
• PRPA expects the following developments in the medium-to-long term: a Parliamentary appearance on online harms, a finding by the European Commission on the adequacy of Canada’s privacy law, tabling of a revised version of former Bill C-11 (CPPA), and a bill to amend the Privacy Act.
• The Directorate will be preparing for the OPC’s participation in the 57th Asia Pacific Privacy Authorities (APPA) Forum (July 12-13, 2022), the upcoming FPT annual meeting (September 19-21, 2022) and the Global Privacy Assembly (Fall 2022).

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Business Advisory Directorate

Director: Abubakar Khan

• Abubakar Khan has been in this role since 2018 and with the OPC since October 2015.

Personnel

• Total FTEs: 7
  • 1 EX-01
  • 1 AS-01
  • 2 PM-06
  • 3 PM-05
• Vacant FTEs:
  • 0 vacancies

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Director, Business Advisory [EX-01], Abubakar Khan

• Senior Advisor [PM-06], Monica Cop
• Senior Advisor [PM-06], Karen Sanghera
• Senior Advisor [PM-06], Vacant

Role

• The Business Advisory Directorate (BA) was established in 2018. To realize the objectives of the OPC’s promotion strategy, the Directorate carries out a range of compliance promotion activities relating to the private sector, through two main program areas, business advisory and private sector Outreach & Stakeholder Relations (O&SR).
• The BA team is largely based in Toronto, with one senior member working in Ottawa.

Key Activities

• Business Advisory
• BA’s business advisory activities are subject to its Terms of Engagement.
• Advisory Consultations (ACs): Voluntarily requested by businesses in respect of significant new initiatives and ongoing practices and policies relating to personal information management, subject to PIPEDA. ACs help businesses identify PIPEDA compliance risks and gaps, and provide specific advice to proactively address such gaps and risks.
• Proactive Engagements (PEs): Initiated by the OPC exceptionally, in appropriate cases, and subject to capacity. PEs are undertaken in relation to private sector activities and initiatives that potentially have a high-impact on the privacy of Canadians, with an objective to help organizations innovate and grow in a privacy compliant manner. They are voluntary for businesses.
• Outreach & Stakeholder Relations (O&SR): Variety of activities conducted in support of OPC’s outreach strategy, such as: OPC-hosted events, speaking engagements, exhibits, presentations, stakeholder meetings with individuals, associations and relevant entities etc., to advance the OPC’s promotional objectives and develop relationships and opportunities to effectively deliver services.
• In Fiscal Year 2021-2022, the Directorate conducted 14 business advisory engagements (12 AC and 2 PE) and 24 O&SR activities. In Fiscal Year 2020-2021, the Directorate conducted 13 business advisory engagements (12 AC and 1 PE) and 34 O&SR activities.

Priorities

• Privacy clinics

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Government Advisory Directorate

Director: Lacey Batalov

• Lacey Batalov has been the Director of Government Advisory since 2018, and with the OPC since 2011. She is on leave until October 2022.
• Alexandra Foster has been the Acting Director since October 2021, and with the OPC since 2014.

Personnel

• Total FTEs: 12.5
  • 1 EX-01
  • 4 PM-06
  • 7 PM-05
  • 1 PM-04
  • .5 AS-02 (shared with TA Directorate)
• Vacant FTEs:
  • 0 vancancies

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Director, Government Advisory [EX-01], Lacey Batalov (note 1: on leave) (note 2: replaced by Alexandra Foster acting)

• Manager [PM-06], Maude Auger-Garneau
• Manager [PM-06], Alexandra Foster (note: replaced by Marie-Christine Monchalin acting)
• Manager [PM-06], Nicole Frantz (note 1: on assignment in the Executive Secretariat) (note 2: replaced by Katherine Glasgow acting)
• Special Advisor [PM-06], Lindsay Scotton

Role

• The OPC adopted a new structure in 2018, emphasizing practical and proactive advice in areas where there can be impact for the greatest number of Canadians.
• As part of the Policy and Promotion Sector, the Government Advisory Directorate (GA) encourages compliance with the Privacy Act by providing government institutions with proactive advice and guidance on privacy risks associated with their use of personal information.
• GA aims to help these institutions ensure that privacy risks are mitigated before the launch of federal programs and activities, and to increase transparency regarding government use of personal information.

Key Activities

• Consulting with government institutions on initiatives involving personal information.
• Providing information on key privacy concepts and practices through outreach sessions provided to government institutions.
• Receiving, reviewing and providing comments on Privacy Impact Assessments (PIAs), Information Sharing Agreements (ISAs), and departmental privacy frameworks and policies.
• Reviewing and providing input on government policy related to personal information use and leads regular meetings with the Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat’s Privacy and Data Protection Division.
• Reviewing notifications of disclosures in the public interest or that benefit the individual by government institutions (Public interest disclosures by federal institutions under the Privacy Act).
• In Fiscal Year 2021-2022, GA opened 105 new consultation files, undertook 39 outreach sessions, received 111 PIAs and sent detailed recommendations for 42 initiatives, and received 747 notifications of disclosures of personal information in the public interest, or that benefited the individual, continuing the trend of large numbers of public interest disclosures over the past few years.
• GA takes a portfolio approach to dividing its responsibilities amongst the directorate.

Priorities

• In the past two years, GA has prioritized responses to COVID-19 related programs, and continues to review government responses to the pandemic, such as border measures and vaccination compliance programs.
• There is increasing overlap between GA’s and the Compliance Sector’s files, and more clarity is needed, both internally and externally, on the separation between these two groups.

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Technology Analysis Directorate

Director: Martyn Turcotte

• Martyn Turcotte has held this position since September 2019.

Personnel

• Total FTEs: 9.5
  • 1 EX-01
  • 2 IT-04
  • 4 IT-03
  • 2 IT-02
  • .5 AS-02 (shared with GA Directorate)
• Vacant FTEs:
  • 0 vancancies

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Director, Technology Analysis [EX-01], Martyn Turcotte

• Senior IT Research Analyst [IT-04], Malcolm Townsend
• Senior IT Research Analyst [IT-04], David Weinkauf

Role

• Proactively supports the OPC in achieving its mission and mandate since all activities undertaken by the OPC, whether compliance (breach analysis, investigations, audits, etc.) or public education, have a technology component.
• Identifies and analyzes technological trends and developments in electronic platforms and digital media; conducts research to assess the impact of technology on the protection of personal information in the digital world and provides strategic analysis and guidance on complex, varied and sensitive technological issues involving government and commercial systems that store personal information.

Key Activities

• Receives requests for technology support from all directorates in both sectors.
• On April 1, 2021, the Directorate began the fiscal year with 65 requests for technology support. From April 1, 2021, to March 31, 2022, 119 new requests for technology support were added. Of these requests, 50% were from the Policy and Promotion Sector, 38% were from the Compliance Sector, 10% were allocated to internal technical support activities and 2% were allocated to other activities.
• The Directorate will take advantage of the new technology lab, which will spark new and innovative ways to support the organization and conduct technology testing in areas such as the internet of things, mobile internet and virtual and augmented reality. The technology lab is multifunctional:
• It is equipped for forensic analyses, PIPEDA investigations, research projects, malware analysis, and Canada’s anti-spam legislation (CASL) projects/investigations.
• It has electronic analysis capabilities, such as chip analysis, printed circuit board analysis, chip debugging and reverse engineering.
• It has testing capabilities for internet of things devices, smart home devices and artificial intelligence projects.
• It is also a collaborative space for training, lab demonstrations and brainstorming.

Priorities

• Biometrics, mobile internet, virtual and augmented reality, digital identity, cloud computing, internet of things, artificial intelligence, quantum computing, blockchain, applications of genomic technologies and many others continue to shape the technology landscape in Canada and around the world. With so many emerging technologies on so many fronts, it remains a challenge for the employees in the Technology Analysis Directorate to stay current and at the forefront of technological innovations.
• The Directorate operates in an optimized and agile environment, given the high volume of support requests and wide range of evolving IT-related areas.
• Maintaining the knowledge and skills of IT research analysts continues to be a critical component of technical support delivery. This requires continuous learning and training in different technologies, whether through conferences, specialized courses or self-training. It also requires hiring experts in the field. For example, this is the case for the recruitment process in the field of AI.