News

• Privacy commissioners issue joint statement on privacy principles for contact tracing and similar smartphone apps

  May 7, 2020

  Manitoba Ombudsman has joined with other federal, provincial and territorial privacy commissioners in issuing a joint statement on the privacy principles that should guide decisions about using contact tracing and similar smartphone applications as public health tools to help address the COVID-19 pandemic.

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• Advisories for public bodies and trustees about extensions under FIPPA and responding to access requests under PHIA

  Mar 24, 2020

  The ombudsman has issued an advisory for public bodies about extensions under FIPPA during the COVID-19 pandemic and an advisory for trustees about responding to individuals’ access requests under PHIA during the COVID-19 pandemic.

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• Canada’s access to information and privacy guardians urge governments to modernize legislation to better protect Canadians

  Nov 6, 2019

  Information and Privacy Ombudspersons and Commissioners from across Canada are urging their governments to modernize access to information and privacy laws.

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SERVICE UPDATE

Due to concerns about COVID-19 (coronavirus), we are limiting face to face contact as a precautionary measure to keep everyone safe. Our offices are now closed to the public and we are working differently to maintain service. During this time, there may be unexpected delays in responding to emails and phone calls. We appreciate your patience and understanding. We will get back to you at our first available opportunity. There may also be some delays when we contact public entities in the course of our work, as those public entities prioritize the need to respond to the public health crisis.

Please contact us by phone at 1-800-665-0531 or 204-982-9130 during regular office hours or by email at ombudsman@ombudsman.mb.ca if you have questions about our services or want to speak to someone about making a complaint.

For information about making complaints, complaint forms and some frequently asked questions about the different kinds of complaints we handle, please visit our complaints page at www.ombudsman.mb.ca/info/complaints.html

We are closely monitoring this rapidly evolving situation and will adjust our operational plans as needed. Watch this website and our social media pages for further updates.

ADVISORIES

Advisory for public bodies about extensions under FIPPA during the COVID-19 pandemic

Advisory for trustees about responding to individuals’ access requests under PHIA during the COVID-19 pandemic

• About the Office

  Mission and goals, meet the ombudsman, history, contact information, ombudsman's expenses and more.

• Access and Privacy Division

  This division is responsible for upholding access to information and privacy rights by investigating complaints and reviewing compliance with the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (FIPPA) and the Personal Health Information Act (PHIA).

• Ombudsman Division

  This division promotes fairness and administrative accountability through investigation of complaints relating to matters of administration under the Ombudsman Act and disclosures of wrongdoing under the Public Interest Disclosure (Whistleblower Protection) Act.