Keynote Address:

Michael Geist

Privacy Meets Technology: The Road Ahead For Ontario Schools

Canadian privacy law faces difficult challenges as it grapples with the challenges posed by emerging technologies. A Parliamentary review of Canada's privacy legislation later this year combined with a growing number of provincial privacy laws have created a complex national privacy patchwork, while new technologies are stretching the boundaries of current privacy legislation. Dr.Geist will focus on how to adjust to new technologies and how organizations can anticipate future shifts of the Canadian privacy law landscape and be ready for the future privacy compliance requirements that arise within the context of MISA and data warehousing initiatives.

Presenters:

John Higgins

Access and Privacy in Ontario: An Overview

Mr. Higgins will provide a brief backgrounder on privacy and data protection. His primary focus will be Ontario's privacy and access to information laws. He will outline the mandate and function of the Ontario Information and Privacy Commissioner, and share some tips, cautionary tales and success stories from past cases.

Sharon Cohen

Taking The Guesswork Out Of Privacy: The Ontario Shared Services Privacy Review

In the immediate aftermath of the largest privacy breach in the history of the Ontario Government, the Ontario Shared Services organization (which provides a range of financial and administrative business services for all Ontario government ministries) found itself the subject of an independently conducted, end-to-end review of its privacy practices, with the results directed to be made public. Challenged to move the organization from crisis to confidence, Ontario Shared Services developed an innovative public sector based privacy standard against which it was measured, and in the process, has taken the guesswork out of privacy compliance for front line workers and senior executives alike. The results will likely have far reaching impacts on strengthening the privacy culture within the Ontario Public Service, and afford a practical strategy for other sectors in strengthening their privacy culture.

Panel Presenters:

Issues Of Data Sharing Initiatives: Opportunities And Challenges For School Boards

The panel will bring three different role perspectives to the opportunities and challenges related to data sharing initiatives.

Gina Coish

Gina Coish will provide an overview of the fundamental premises of access and privacy legislation, the legal requirements related to access, use, disclosure and retention of student personal information and discuss the difference between notice and consent and how to determine which is appropriate.

Biography

Erica van Roosmalen

Erica van Roosmalen will focus on privacy, security and ethical issues linking, sharing and mining student achievement data.

Biography

Andrew Harris

Andrew Harris will look at three actionable starting points for boards faced with technology and privacy concerns: network security, work space processes, and procedural guidelines.

Biography