'Intrusion upon Seclusion' ? The Tort Whose Time Has Come?

• Author: Bernice Karn
• Pages: 305-315



IntrusionuponSeclusion

TheTortWhoseTimeHasCome

Bernice Karn*

WiththeenactmentofthePersonalInformationProtectionandElectronic

DocumentsActor PIPEDACanadaarguablybecameoneoftheworld-

wideleaders for the protect ion ofp ersonal information in commerce

PIPEDAhadbeenprecededbytheenactmentofprivatesectorprivacy

legislationinQuebecwhichwassoonfollowedbyprovinciallegisla-

tion in Alberta and British Columbia Givent heprotec tions aorded

byeachofthesestatutesintheirrespectiveprovincestheGovernorin

CouncilhasissuedOrdersexemptingorganizationsfromtheprovisions

ofPartofPIPEDAinrespectofthecollectionuseanddisclosureof

personalinformationwithinthoseprovincesAllofthesestatutesseek

toregulatethecollectionuseanddisclosureofpersonalinformation

inthecourseofcommercialactivitiesInadditionfederalandprovin-

cialstatutesinCanadaprovideprotectionforthepersonalinformation

 BerniceKarnisapartnerintheBusinessLawGroupatCasselsBrockBlackwell

LLPwhereshepractisesintellectualpropertylawTheassistanceofSaraLefton

studentatlawinthepreparationofthispaperisgratefullyacknowledged

 SCcPIPEDA

 AnActrespectingtheProtectionofpersonalinformationintheprivatesectorRSQcP

 PersonalInformationProtectionActSAcPPersonalInformationProtectionAct

SBCc

 OrganizationsintheProvinceofQuebecExemptionOrderPCCGaz

IIOrganizationsintheProvinceofAlbertaExemptionOrderPC

CGazIIOrganizationsintheProvinceofBritishColumbiaExemptionOrderPC

CGazII