Thank you, Madam Chairperson. I feel quite strongly that when we start infringing on people's rights or restricting them access to information that may affect them and also information about themselves, where someone else may be able to use it again them, or use it for capital gains through surveys, has to be taken seriously. I believe that now a days, in the computer age, where information is accessed through computers and also forms of information, Internet, that people's rights and people's privileges to privacy are slowly being stomped away by infringement on the right to be able to have information about yourself kept secret. Also, being able to access information without having it regulated to a point where you have to go to court to get it.
I feel that there are some problems that I mentioned in the committee on how I feel about certain things, especially when it comes to a parent and their child's education, the information that is taken on their children when they are attending school by counsellors, that they should, as a parent, know what is happening with their child at all times. Regardless if it is through the justice system or the education system. I believe that when it comes to governments and legislatures, sometimes we overlook the human side of issues and look at more in regards to policies and implementing acts and regulations, for the government to take on more power, but limiting the powers of the people. I feel that we have to always keep in mind who we are here to serve. Are we serve the government, the bureaucracy, industry, or businesses that take advantage of using information to benefit their profit margins or the shareholders they represent?
When it comes to accessing personal information, I believe the people do have the right to know what is happening to information that relates to themselves and not find out about it, say in a newspaper, or come by chance you looked in a phone book and next thing you find out that your address, your phone number, your date of birth and all the information that is relevant to you, shows up in an article because someone happened to legally, or illegally, access information on yourself. Once that information is stored either in a computer or put into a filing system, that information can be revealed or accessed by one agency which can turn around and sell it to another agency for a profit.
Without having penalties spelled out in this legislation, all they get is a slap on the wrist and told not to do it again. It is too late for the person that the information may have had a drastic effect on their lifestyle, the people they know and their other family members because this information has been leaked. I believe this legislation should have gone farther in ensuring the penalties are clearly spelled out. Those penalties were harsh enough that no information will ever be revealed legally or illegally, or used improperly on any individual person in the Northwest Territories.
I feel we should have taken more time to deal with this bill and allow for groups of the Conflict of Interest Commissioner and also interest groups would deal with the question of Charter of Rights and also the right to information through the new technologies that we have like computers, e-mail and also ensuring that we have a security system in place that any information taken will be private and no one will be able to access it. Allowing loop holes in legislation where people can take advantage of it, I believe has to be taken seriously and if we have to put teeth on any legislation that we put forth. With that, Madam Chairperson, thank you.