OTTAWA, January 25, 2008 – Up to half a million
dollars in funding will be available to aid research into privacy
issues and encourage the advancement of privacy rights under the
Privacy Commissioner of Canada’s Contributions Program.
This year, the Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada (OPC) is
interested in receiving research proposals focusing on four priority
areas:
National Security;
Identity Integrity and Protection;
Information Technology; and
Genetic Privacy and Bio-banking.
The Contributions Program, for the first time ever, is also soliciting
proposals for innovative public education, outreach and awareness
raising initiatives.
“In the age of identity theft, data breaches and social networks,
amongst other issues, public education can play such an important role
in empowering people with the information to make the right choices
for themselves.” says Privacy Commissioner Jennifer Stoddart.
Organizations that are eligible for funding under the Program
include not-for profit organizations, such as educational institutions
and industry and trade associations, as well as consumer, voluntary
and advocacy organizations.
“The
Contributions Program is a great federal resource available to researchers
in all provinces and territories,” says David Loukidelis, BC’s
Information and Privacy Commissioner. “A major bonus is that provincial
and territorial commissioners, and many other stakeholders, benefit from the
well-founded research the Program generates.”
Furthermore, the Office
will set aside funds under the Contributions Program to support
collaborative research and policy development work with provincial and
territorial privacy commissioners’ offices.
No proposals will be sought for this part of the Program.
The maximum amount that can be awarded for any single research project
is $50,000. Organizations are eligible to receive funding for more than
one project, up to a maximum of $100,000.
Organizations that wish to submit their proposals must do so by
March 14, 2008.
Links to projects completed under the Contributions Program
in previous years are available on the OPC Web site at http://www.privcom.gc.ca/information/cp/index_e.asp.
Over the past five years, the Office of the Privacy Commissioner
of Canada has committed over $1.5 million to the Contributions
Program.
“Some very impressive research ideas have been explored since
we first started this program in 2004 and I am very pleased that my
Office is able to continue supporting research that is crucial to our
understanding of the state of privacy in Canada,” says Commissioner
Stoddart. “This year’s program will have an added advantage
of helping us generate proposals that focus on our core priorities,
and actively solicit engaging public education and outreach initiatives.”
The Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada is mandated by
Parliament to act as an ombudsman, advocate and guardian of the privacy
and protection of personal information rights of Canadians.
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For more information, contact:
François Cadieux
Senior Research Analyst
Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada
Tel.: (613) 947-3090
E-mail: fcadieux@privcom.gc.ca
Media contact:
Colin McKay
Acting Director, Public Education and Communications
Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada
Tel: (613) 995-0103
E-mail: cmckay@privcom.gc.ca
