Politics This Morning: Privacy commissioners warn of potential concerns as governments develop contact-tracing apps

Good Friday morning, Federal and provincial privacy commissioners issued a joint statement, outlining principles governments should stick as they work to develop contact-tracing apps to manage the spread of COVID-19. They said the use of these apps should be voluntary, that data should be aggregated or "de-identified" where possible, and a monitoring program is in place to gauge its effectiveness, among other guidelines. Ottawa has yet to release its plans for such an app, but Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said the government is considering whether it's more appropriate for it to be used voluntarily. In an earlier interview with The Hill Times, federal commissioner Daniel Therrien said the government had yet to consult his office on the specific details behind its development of a contact-tracing app. Mr. Trudeau yesterday announced that provinces and territories reached a deal to provide a temporary boost to the wages of some essential front-line workers making less than $2,500 a month. The feds will cover three-quarters of the $4-billion fund. Eligibility will be left up to the provinces and territories. The Canadian Coalition for Firearms Rights is launching a constitutional challenge against the feds' ban on military-grade assault weapons, which the group argues opens the door for the government to confiscate 10- and 12-gauge shotguns. Public Safety Minister Bill Blair disputed that claim, saying that those with licences can still retain those shotguns. In Quebec, Premier François Legault scuttled plans for Montreal to reopen schools, daycares, and retail stores, pushing the date back to May 25. He cited concerns about the city's capacity to handle a surge in cases amid a shortage of health care workers. Google's sister company Sidewalk Labs abandoned its plan to turn a portion of Toronto's waterfront into a smart city, citing the pandemic's devastating impact on the global economy and the city's real estate market. The project, which had drawn opposition from unlikely allies, faced concerns over its privacy implications. In scheduled events, Governor General Julie Payette and Veterans Affairs Minister Lawrence MacAulay are participating in a belated virtual ceremony on Facebook Live to mark the 75th anniversary of the Liberation of the Netherlands. The House Human Resources Committee is slated to hear from Immigration Minister Marco Mendicino and departmental officials at 11 a.m. Treasury Board President Jean-Yves Duclos, meanwhile, is appearing before the Government Operations Committee, followed by public service union reps. Public Service Alliance of Canada has called on the government to return to the negotiating table to settle contracts for more than 140,000 federal service workers. The government, for its part, said its goal is to take "constructive steps to keep meeting" and prepare for the resumption of negotiations. Over at the Indigenous Affairs Committee, members will hear from AFN National Chief Perry Bellegarde, Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami president Natan Obed, and the Métis National Council's David Chartrand at around 2 p.m. Earlier this week, Mr. Bellegarde expressed alarm over the spread of COVID-19 in Saskatchewan's far north, appealing on behalf of First Nations to ensure local leaders are engaged in the decision-making. The Hill Times

Politics This Morning

Politics This Morning: Privacy commissioners warn of potential concerns as governments develop contact-tracing apps

Plus, Immigration Minister Marco Mendicino is appearing before the House Immigration Committee.

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Politics This Morning

Politics This Morning: Privacy commissioners warn of potential concerns as governments develop contact-tracing apps

Plus, Immigration Minister Marco Mendicino is appearing before the House Immigration Committee.

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