Children and Youth Privacy Rights Enhanced under Part X of the CYFSA- Panel Summary

  • July 09, 2020
  • Kimberley Ishmael and Sakshi Chadha

On June 25, 2020, a webinar was jointly hosted by the OBA Privacy and Access to Information Law Section and the OBA Child and Youth Law Section to discuss the new rights and obligations stemming from Part X of the Child, Youth and Family Services Act (CYFSA). In effect as of January 1, 2020, the new set of rules bridges the legislative gaps surrounding the privacy, protection and access rights to personal information impacting children, youth and families in the child and youth service sector.   

The webinar was co-chaired by Kimberley Ishmael, Keel Cottrelle LLP, and Jane Stewart, Justice for Children and Youth (JFCY), with the following panel of speakers: Michelle Manning, Legal Counsel, Office of the Information and Privacy Commissioner of Ontario (IPC); Ian Ross, In-House Counsel, Office of the Children’s Lawyer (OCL); Kristina Reitmeier, Chief Counsel, Children’s Aid Society of Toronto; and Samira Ahmed, JFCY.

Michelle Manning provided an overview of Part X of the CYFSA including a review of the legislative privacy framework for the collection, use, disclosure of and access and/or correction to personal information held by service providers, as well as the role of the IPC as the new oversight body for service providers in respect of Part X. Michelle also provided some general tips for service providers on meeting Part X obligations including recommendations for staff training, development of privacy policies, review of IPC decisions, and available guides and resources.