The federal government’s use of the Emergencies Act in response to the Freedom Convoy protests last winter was no excuse for infringing on Canadians’ privacy, says federal Privacy Commissioner Philippe Dufresne.
“I recognize emergencies evolve rapidly and require swift and effective responses to address extraordinary public needs,” Dufresne wrote to the Parliamentary Joint Committee on the Declaration of Emergency on Jan. 30, according to Blacklock’s Reporter. 
“However even in an emergency, public institutions must continue to operate under lawful authority and act responsibly particularly with respect to handling information that may be considered sensitive.”
Dufresne, who was appointed Canada’s privacy commissioner in June 2022 by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, also told the committee that protecting privacy “is not just a set of technical rules and regulations.”…