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Office of the Information and Privacy Commissioner – Report A-2026-036 Released
Source: Newfoundland & Labrador - Government Releases
Date: 2026-10-29 17:45:03.0
Tags: [Newfoundland and Labrador, Governance, Justice]The Office of the Information and Privacy Commissioner released Report A-2026-036, finding that the Department of Forestry, Agriculture and Lands contravened section 65(1) of the Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act, 2015. The Department failed to retain interview panel notes involving an employment candidate's personal information for the mandatory one-year retention period, improperly treating them as transitory records and destroying them prematurely. The Commissioner recommended that the Department review its transitory records usage and update its record retention policies to comply fully with section 65.
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OIPC Releases Submissions for the ATIPPA 2015 Review
Source: Newfoundland & Labrador - Government Releases
Date: 2026-10-14 14:00:46.0
Tags: [Newfoundland and Labrador, Governance, Justice, Technology]The Office of the Information and Privacy Commissioner (OIPC) has released its official submission for the statutory five-year review of Newfoundland and Labrador's Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act, 2015 (ATIPPA, 2015), pursuant to section 117 of the legislation. While maintaining that ATIPPA, 2015 remains the strongest access to information law in Canada, Information and Privacy Commissioner Kerry Hatfield's submission outlines targeted amendments to clarify solicitor-client privilege oversight, strengthen privacy protections regarding political parties, and address emerging challenges associated with artificial intelligence and digital technology. The statutory review process is being conducted by committee chair Keri-Lynn Power, LLB (Hons), LLM, appointed by the Minister of Justice and Public Safety.
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Office of the Information and Privacy Commissioner – Report A-2026-031 Released
Source: Newfoundland & Labrador - Government Releases
Date: 2026-10-07 18:20:32.0
Tags: [Newfoundland and Labrador, Governance, Justice]The Office of the Information and Privacy Commissioner released Report A-2026-031 regarding access to information requests made to the College of the North Atlantic for internal records and aggregate legal fees. The College withheld all responsive records under section 30 of the Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act, 2015, and refused to provide the records to the Commissioner's Office despite a formal summons. The Commissioner determined that the College failed to conduct a reasonable search and did not meet its burden regarding solicitor-client and litigation privilege, subsequently recommending the full release of all responsive records to the Complainant.
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Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act, 2015 Statutory Review Committee – One Week Remaining to Provide Written Submissions
Source: Newfoundland & Labrador - Government Releases
Date: 2026-10-02 14:15:42.0
Tags: [Newfoundland and Labrador, Governance, Justice]Keri-Lynn Power, Chair of the independent ATIPPA Review Committee, has issued a one-week reminder for the public and public bodies to submit written feedback on the provisions and operation of Newfoundland and Labrador's Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act, 2015. The call for written submissions, part of the statutory five-year review process, opened on July 15 and is set to close on October 9, 2026. Submissions can be submitted online through the committee's website, via email, or delivered directly to the committee's office located at the Beothuck Building in St. John's.
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Access to Information and Right to Know Week 2026
Source: Newfoundland & Labrador - Government Releases
Date: 2026-09-28 12:20:30.0
Tags: [Newfoundland and Labrador, Governance, Justice]The Office of the Information and Privacy Commissioner (OIPC) marked Right to Know Week 2026, highlighting the ongoing statutory review of the Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act, 2015 (ATIPPA, 2015). Information and Privacy Commissioner Kerry Hatfield emphasized that public participation in the review is vital to preserving and strengthening the province's access to information legislation. The statutory review provides individuals, organizations, journalists, and public bodies an opportunity to submit perspectives on shaping future information and privacy rights in Newfoundland and Labrador.
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Provincial Government Appoints New Director of Serious Incident Response Team
Source: Newfoundland & Labrador - Government Releases
Date: 2026-09-09 16:30:04.0
Tags: [Newfoundland and Labrador, Justice, Public Safety, Governance]The Honourable Helen Conway Ottenheimer, KC, Minister of Justice and Public Safety and Attorney General, has appointed Richard Deveau as the new director of the Newfoundland and Labrador Serious Incident Response Team (SIRT) for a five-year term effective September 9, 2026. Mr. Deveau, formerly a senior Crown attorney for the Eastern Region with Public Prosecutions, succeeds leadership of the independent civilian-led oversight agency responsible for investigating police-involved deaths, serious injuries, sexual offences, domestic violence, and matters of significant public interest across Newfoundland and Labrador.
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Ottawa ends NunatuKavut bid for Indigenous rights recognition, NCC says
Source: Territories - Northern Affairs (Yukon, NWT, Nunavut)
Date: 2026-09-09 12:58:41.0
Tags: [National, Newfoundland and Labrador, Indigenous, Governance, Justice]Crown-Indigenous Relations Minister Rebecca Alty announced that the federal government is terminating the 2019 Memorandum of Understanding and the Recognition of Indigenous Rights and Self-Determination process with the NunatuKavut Community Council (NCC). The federal Department of Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada (CIRNAC) stated that evidence and documentation submitted by NCC to support claims under Section 35 of the Constitution Act did not satisfy court-established legal tests for Indigenous rights and title. The termination of the MOU takes effect on October 4, though CIRNAC noted the decision does not preclude NCC from applying for federal programs that do not require Section 35 recognition. The decision was welcomed by the Innu Nation and the Nunatsiavut Government, while NCC criticized the move and stated it will pursue all avenues, including potential legal action.
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Task Force Prepares for Community Engagement With Discussions on Key Violence Prevention Initiatives
Source: Newfoundland & Labrador - Government Releases
Date: 2026-08-31 12:00:36.0
Tags: [Newfoundland and Labrador, Justice, Public Safety, Social Services, Healthcare]The Task Force to End Gender-Based Violence in Newfoundland and Labrador met on August 25 and 26, 2026, to advance community engagement plans targeting diverse populations, including survivors, Indigenous communities, and 2SLGBTQIA+ individuals. Co-chaired by Stacey Hoffe and overseen by Minister of Women and Gender Equity Lela Evans, the 12-member task force discussed policy areas such as electronic monitoring, emergency protection orders, and post-release supports for incarcerated individuals in Labrador. The task force also received updates from various provincial bodies—including the Department of Social Supports and Well-Being, the Department of Health and Community Services regarding the Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner Program, and the Department of Justice and Public Safety regarding the Policing Transformation Working Group report—ahead of delivering its first public report in fall 2026.
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