The B.C. government will allow the use of technologies that would otherwise be restricted under the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act, it was revealed on Sunday evening.
According to a prepared statement issued by the COVID Provincial Co-Ordination Plan, a new ministerial order has been issued that would allow broader use of communication tools for health-care workers and other government employees responding to the COVID-19 state of emergency.
So far, there are 884 confirmed COVID-19 cases in B.C., and 17 people have died. Across Canada, there are just over 6,200 cases and 60 deaths.
“The protection of privacy is a top priority for the B.C. government, and so is protecting the health and safety of British Columbians during the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic,” the prepared statement read. “The public-health emergency has made it necessary for government to temporarily enable the use of technologies that would otherwise be restricted under FOIPPA’s current rules.”
B.C.’s FIPPA laws require personal information of citizens to be stored in and only accessed from within Canada.
The ministerial order will override that, temporarily permitting the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Mental Health and Addictions, and health authorities to use communication and collaboration software that may host information outside of Canada.
The order also enables B.C. schools and post-secondary institutions to provide online learning for students who have been displaced due to the need for physical distancing.
The ministerial order is in effect until June 30, 2020, at which point it may be extended.
Copyright Postmedia Network Inc., 2020
