 |
| Backgrounder(s) & FactSheet(s): | Backgrounder |
|
| Backgrounder(s) & FactSheet(s): | Backgrounder |
VICTORIA – Legislation introduced today will ensure British Columbians’ personal information is protected, stimulate further online business transactions and open doors to international trade, said Sandy Santori, Minister of Management Services.
The Personal Information Protection Act defines the kind of personal information that businesses, non-profit organizations and charities can collect from clients, customers, employees and volunteers, and sets out what can be done with that information. It provides citizens with more control over how their personal information is obtained and handled, while allowing B.C. businesses and agencies to collect, use and disclose information for legitimate business purposes.
“This is a good, practical piece of legislation that B.C. residents and businesses have asked us to create, and it will further strengthen consumer confidence in B.C. businesses,” said Santori. “We recognize that many consumers are wary of providing their information over the Internet. When consumers feel more secure about how their personal information is handled, their confidence will be expressed in more online business, which will contribute to revitalizing B.C.’s economy.”
The legislation will increase opportunities for B.C. businesses to carry out commerce in other jurisdictions, such as the European Union, that require their trading partners to have privacy protection laws.
Currently, businesses in B.C. can use clients’ personal information for any purpose, including marketing, without the client’s permission. At times, this has led to individuals receiving unwanted sales pitches for merchandise or services, or requests for financial support, when the organizations they have dealt with have shared client information with others.
A federal law, the Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act, is scheduled to come into effect in 2004 for provinces without privacy legislation. Over the past year, the Ministry of Management Services consulted with more than 170 organizations, including small and large businesses, non-profit and professional organizations and advocacy groups. These organizations opted overwhelmingly for a made-in-B.C. solution rather than the more complicated federal act.
“The province's extensive consultation process gave business at all levels the opportunity to express their concerns and ideas about this legislation,” said John Winter, B.C. Chamber of Commerce president. “As a result, the legislation is clearly written, practical and will be easy for most businesses to understand and administer. Consumers will be reassured by consistent business practices, and that’s good for commerce.”
In addition, government will provide businesses with tools to help them implement the act, such as a privacy checklist for small businesses, staff training information and privacy assessment sheets for larger companies to ensure they are applying the legislation in their daily business.
“B.C.’s Personal Information Protection Act provides British Columbians with broader coverage than the federal act and is less complex,” said David Loukidelis, Information and Privacy Commissioner. “I’m pleased that B.C. has worked with privacy groups, non-profit organizations and businesses to develop an act that addresses the concerns of British Columbians.”
-30-
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
