Mar. 05, 2018
MEDIA RELEASE
VICTORIA- The all-party Special Committee to Appoint an Information and Privacy Commissioner has unanimously recommended that Michael McEvoy be appointed as Information and Privacy Commissioner. The committee’s recommendation is included in a report released today.
“Mr. McEvoy’s extensive experience in information and privacy issues, provincially, nationally and internationally, along with his strong record of successful management and commitment to making British Columbia a digital and privacy leader, will support him as Commissioner,” said committee chair Doug Routley. “We also thank Drew McArthur for his professionalism, dedication and contributions as Acting Commissioner during this time of transition.”
“Government transparency, the protection of personal information and the use of data in our digital world are key issues for British Columbians,” added committee deputy chair Mary Polak. “We look forward to Mr. McEvoy’s leadership in the important position of Information and Privacy Commissioner.”
The Information and Privacy Commissioner is an independent officer of the Legislature with responsibility for monitoring and enforcing compliance with the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act and the Personal Information Protection Act. The Commissioner is also designated as the Registrar of Lobbyists under the Lobbyists Registration Act. The appointment is for a term of six years.
The committee’s report is available at: www.leg.bc.ca/cmt/ipc
A bio is attached.
The members of the committee are:
Doug Routley, MLA Nanaimo-North Cowichan (chair)
Mary Polak, MLA Langley (deputy chair)
Anne Kang, MLA Burnaby-Deer Lake
Coralee Oakes, MLA Cariboo North
Dr. Andrew Weaver, MLA Oak Bay-Gordon Head
For further information:
Kate Ryan-Lloyd
Deputy Clerk and Clerk of Committees
Room 224, Parliament Buildings
Victoria, B.C., V8V 1X4
Telephone: 250 356-2933 (collect)
Toll-free: 1 877 428-8337
Fax: 250 356-8172
E-mail: ClerkComm@leg.bc.ca
Biographical Information – Michael McEvoy
Michael Patrick McEvoy is a recognized regulatory authority in access and privacy matters provincially, nationally and internationally.
Mr. McEvoy has served as Deputy Commissioner to the Office of the Information and Privacy Commissioner in British Columbia (OIPC) since 2012, playing a key senior leadership role in the enforcement of the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (FIPPA), Personal Information Protection Act (PIPA) and Lobbyist Registration Act (LRA). For the OIPC, he has been responsible for leading and managing systemic investigations of significant public interest issues, and the development of policy papers and guidance for organizations and public bodies. As the personal data of British Columbians increasingly flows across international boundaries, Mr. McEvoy has led British Columbia’s efforts to coordinate actions with regulatory authorities throughout the Asia Pacific region.
In addition to Mr. McEvoy’s role as Deputy Commissioner, he also served as Senior Adjudicator to the OIPC issuing over 50 orders under privacy and access legislation.
Mr. McEvoy is currently completing work in England, having been seconded to the Information Commissioner’s Office in the United Kingdom. He is providing strategic advice to the Information Commissioner, in addition to leading an investigation into the use of data analytics in the political process.
Mr. McEvoy has been a leader in his community, and at provincial and national levels. He was a public school trustee for 12 years including two terms as President of the British Columbia School Trustees’ Association and one term as President of the Canadian School Boards’ Association. He has also served on numerous campaign committees of the Greater Victoria United Way, including chairing its 2009 campaign.
Earlier in his career, Mr. McEvoy held various positions in the public and private sectors. He was a lawyer in private practice, a lawyer with the Labour Relations Board of BC, a Ministerial Assistant to BC’s Attorney General, and founder and principal of a consultancy firm.
Mr. McEvoy obtained a Juris Doctorate from the University of Manitoba in 1985 and a Bachelor of Arts in 1980 from the University of Winnipeg. He has been a member of the Law Society of British Columbia since 1986.
Mr. McEvoy is married with two grown daughters. He prides himself as a charter member and elite player with the Victoria Grey Leafs’ old-timer hockey team.
