Government Perspective on Data Stewardship for Statistical Data

• Activity Number: 3
• Type: Invited
• Date/Time: Sunday, August 11, 2002 : 2:00 PM to 3:50 PM
• Sponsor: Cmte on Privacy and Confidentiality
• Author(s): Gordon Brackstone*+ and Pamela White
• Affiliation(s): Statistics Canada and Statistics Canada
• Keywords: Confidentiality ; Privacy ; Policy

Abstract

This paper will present a government perspective on a broad spectrum of ideas and best practices for statisitical data collectors to ensure proper stewardship for personal information they collect, process and disseminate.

Under Canada's Statistics Act only non-confidential information can be disclosed unless consent has been provided by the respondent. Since the mid-1980s, Statistics Canada has implemented measures designed to address the requirements of the fair information practices code and specific policies pertaining to record linkage and informing survey respondents about data collection, use and sharing have been implemented. The paper will discuss these policies, provide insights from the over 15 years of experience of their implementation by the Agency, and indicate some of emerging issues for Statistics Canada, including the implementation of a new federal policy requiring the conduct and publication of privacy impact assessments for all new and substantially redesigned programs involving the collection, use and disclosure of personal information.