Upcoming Seminar

Access to Information: Twenty-Five Years On

  This one-day seminar will take an in-depth approach to the various aspects of the Act and the impact the law has had on Canadians for the past twenty-five years. There will be speakers from the legal and private sector and from government, bringing users and the access community together and creating an opportunity for dialogue and exchange between the speakers about the state of the law. How are all these trends converging and what are the implications for access coordinators and professionals in the field? Target audiences for this event are federal access coordinators across the country, federal and provincial access to information commissioners and their staffs, policy makers, departmental offices within the public service, and users of access laws, including businesses, academic institutions, associations, NGOs and the media. This seminar will prove invaluable to coordinators across the government and within Crown corporations.

Detailed information about the seminar and registration is available on the seminars page here

This one day seminar was presented in Ottawa on Monday March 31, in Ottawa

The focus of this privacy seminar is on the issues of security and technology and how they impact or enhance current privacy issues.  These issues are directly related to the federal Privacy Act and accentuate the need for change by Parliament to take into account the major changes technologies and security are having on our privacy.  Privacy laws are the walls that protect individuals against a possibly intrusive society.  These laws have met, to some degree, the expectations of protection from outside sources using one’s personal information.  In our growing surveillance society the walls between the private and the public are beginning to crumble.  More and more organizations, governments included, now know more about individuals than ever before in history.  More information is available here.

Detailed information and select documentation highlights of the seminar are available on the seminar reports page here

Certificate Course on Alternate Dispute Resolution

Providence, Guyana

5th and 6th November 2007

The Commonwealth Telecommunications Organisation (CTO) invites you to a 2-day certificate course on Alternate Dispute Resolution (ADR) to learn the key skills to manage disputes that will be held in Providence, Guyana on 5th and 6th November 2007 at Buddy’s International Hotel jointly organised with the Organisation of Caribbean Utility Regulators (OCCUR). Register soon as only a limited number of places are available. For more information and registrations either check the Events link on our website at www.cto.int or contact Lasantha De Alwis Email: L.Dealwis@cto.int , Tel: +44 208 834 1570 or Fax: +44 870 034 5626 

Using ICT for Effective Disaster Management 

13th – 15th November 2007 

Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania 

Following its successful delivery of three regional Using ICT for Effective Disaster Management Fora in Sri Lanka, Jamaica and Fiji, the CTO will hold the fourth of this series of workshops in Tanzania from 13th to 15th November 2007. Delegates will spend two days of interactions with knowledge leaders from around the world followed by half a day of deliberations to build a Logical Frame on the use of ICTs for effective disaster management focusing on Africa. This is an opportunity to exchange knowledge and build links with similar interest groups. It is also an opportunity to showcase achievements, competencies and expertise in managing effects of disasters. We particularly welcome innovative technologies that support disaster management to exhibit at the event. At the end of this workshop delegates would have had an opportunity to assess options and devise strategies on how best to tackle all phases of disasters, starting from preparedness to reconstruction. For more information about the speaking, attending and exhibiting at this workshop, either check the Events link on our website at www.cto.int or contact Mr. Kojo Boakye, Deputy Programme Manager on Email: k.boakye@aol.com , Tel: +44 208 834 1567 or Fax: +44 870 034 5626

Connecting Rural Communities Africa 2007

Bridging the digital divide through sustainable ICT connectivity

This international event will bring together African government officials, senior figures from African regulatory authorities and international ICT experts who are leading the private sector connectivity drive to discuss key challenges, opportunities and benefits of connecting rural Africa. www.events.cto.int/crcafrica07

Seminar: 
Assessing Current Privacy Issues

This one day seminar was presented in Ottawa on February 21, 2007.

Privacy is now considered one of society's most important values.  The Federal Privacy Act has been in operation for twenty-three years.  During this time span no legislative changes have been made to the law.   Arguments are being out forth by the Privacy Commissioner and privacy experts that, given the changing climate in society, especially with the evolution of new technologies and the ease with which people can steal other people's identities or their personal information, changes to the law are needed. Detailed information and select documentation highlights of the seminar are available on the seminar reports page here 

Digital Broadcasting Switchover Forum 2007

The Commonwealth Telecommunications Organisation announced this week the dates for its forthcoming conference on the migration of broadcasting transmission from analogue to digital.  Hosted by ICASA (the South African Telecoms Regulator) and partnered by the Commonwealth Broadcasting Association, the event will draw on informed experience and case studies from across the African continent to provide delegates with a complete spectrum of viewpoints on this crucial topic. Detailed information here 

Connecting Rural Communities Africa 2006

With the rapid projected development of rural communications in developing countries there has never been a greater opportunity for ICT companies to stake their claim in this lucrative market in support of which the Commonwealth Telecommunications Organisation will be holding a series of events around the globe. The first was held in India in February 2006 and the second is due to be held in Abuja, Nigeria from 10th to 12th October 2006. Please use the following link to access the website for more information and registration www.cto.int/crcafrica06 

Seminar:
Access to Information: Managing Reform and Change 

This two day seminar was presented in Ottawa on September 25 and 26, 2006 entitled:  Access to Information: Managing Reform and Change. This two-day conference was part of the Right to Know Week, inspired by Canada’s federal and provincial information and privacy commissioners across Canada.  Provincial Commissioners and other organizations will be holding similar events across the country. Detailed information and select documentation highlights here 

The Federal Access to Information Act has now been in operation for twenty-two years. Since its inception there have been two major reviews of the legislation. There have been calls for change from practitioners, access advocates, academics and journalists who are concerned about the legislation as it now stands. This seminar will look at the issues driving freedom of information in Canada. There will be a diversity of speakers from the private sector, government and oversight offices from the federal and provincial levels, bringing users and the access community together and creating an opportunity for dialogue and exchange between the speakers and the delegates. 

Changes in security legislation and policies have impacted on the Access Act, as have privacy rights. Information and communication technologies are transforming the way in which we access and use information. How are all these trends converging and what are the implications for access coordinators and professionals in the field?

Speakers will explore media issues involving both federal and provincial access to information laws and practices, while others will examine the efficacy of the law and where changes are needed. Target audiences for this event are federal and provincial access to information commissioners and their staffs, policy makers, departmental offices within the public service, and users of access laws, including businesses, associations and the media.

......click here for documentation highlights....

A REPOSITORY FOR E-GOVERNMENT KNOWLEDGE SHARING: 
WHY IT IS NEEDED?   (July 2005)

This paper examines the need for governments to build e-government knowledge sharing repositories.  It is important for government agencies to understand the past and how this modern discipline of e-Governance, e-government and e-democracy evolved.  Knowledge sharing of lessons learned is an important process for government.  This paper articulates a strategy on how a knowledge sharing of e-government lessons and experiences can be achieved.  Canada, a continuing number one leader in e-government, is the model used for the paper.  click here

The Roadmap to e-Governance Implementation: Selected Perspectives by Rogers W'O Okot-Uma, Vice-Chair, Commonwealth Centre for e-Governance

Highlights from the September 17, 2004 Workshop and Seminar

HEALTH INFORMATION PRIVACY:
DIALOGUE WITH THE HEALTH COMMUNITY

Many provinces are developing health privacy laws.  Ontario's Health Information Protection Act, 2004 has been passed by the provincial legislature, given Royal Assent, and comes into effect on November 1st., 2004.

There are a multitude of issues arising in the field of health privacy, which will be discussed and debated by Privacy Commissioners, privacy experts and health professionals in this one-day seminar. The issues of consent, patient access to records, what medical doctors can and cannot do under the new law, the question of fund raising, how research information can or cannot be used if an individual's name can be determined, are just of few of the issues that are the subject of intense debate.

The afternoon sessions will deal specifically with the Ontario Personal Health Information Protection Act. This seminar is a must for health professionals, associations, chiropractors, physiotherapists, government personnel, health care practitioners and any organization in the medical field.   ......click here for documentation highlights....