Nova Scotia has specific privacy legislation for organizations operating in the public sector, but unlike British Columbia, Alberta, and Quebec, has no specific privacy legislation for organizations operating in the private sector. Instead, the Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act (PIPEDA) applies to the private sector.
The Nova Scotia Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Review Office enforces FOIPOP. The Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Review Officer is Catherine Tully.
Public Sector Legislation
Nova Scotia’s public sector privacy legislation is the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (FOIPOP) (read the regulations). In addition, Part XX of the Municipal Government Act applies to municipal bodies in Nova Scotia.
For example, FOIPOP will apply to:
- Hospitals,
- public bodies, municipalities,
- universities, the Collège de l’Acadie, and the Nova Scotia Community College.
Nova Scotia also has legislation to protect the personal information of Nova Scotians from disclosure outside Canada. Public bodies and public body service providers are affected by the Personal Information International Disclosure Protection Act.
In addition, the Privacy Review Officer Act gives review officers the authority to investigate breaches of privacy when people and organizations are not satisfied with how information shared with government or public bodies such as hospitals, universities and school boards is handled.
