The British Columbia government has implemented changes to how it handles personal and private information.
Following a privacy breach in 2009, the government received reports for three investigations took place as a result of this. The privacy breach involved personal information of 1,400 clients from the ministries of Children and Family Development and Housing and Social Development being found in the home of a government worker.
After receiving two internal reports, Ben Stewart, Citizen’s Services Minister, pledged to take action within 90 days (starting from Jan. 29).
Some of the changes that have already been implemented include: centralizing the responsibility for responding to privacy breaches in the office of the Chief Information Officer and implementing a new policy on criminal record checks for employees who work for the government.
Also in effect today, is a mandatory government-wide training program to ensure that anyone working in the BC Public Service understands their responsibilities to protect clients’ privacy.