Commissioner
The Commissioner is an Officer of the Legislature and is independent of government. The Commissioner has a broad range of regulatory responsibilities and powers.
The Commissioner’s duties include:
Informing Albertans about existing and proposed privacy legislation
Commenting on the privacy and information implications of proposed legislation and programs
Reviewing the access to information decisions made by the public bodies, custodians, organizations and agencies under the jurisdiction of the FOIP Act, HIA or PIPA
Investigating how personal information is collected, used and disclosed to ensure compliance under the FOIP Act, HIA or PIPA
Receive comments from the public about how each of the Acts are being administered
Research of any factor which may affect the achievement of the purposes of the FOIP Act, HIA or PIPA
Giving advice and recommendations about the Acts to heads of public bodies, custodians and organizations
Collaborating with stakeholders to educate the public, organizations and agencies subject to privacy legislation through community involvement, including, presentations, production of awareness materials including written guides, brochures and community service messages, sponsorship of educational programs through provincial educational institutions such as the University of Alberta, sponsorship of industry related conferences.
In keeping with the spirit of the legislation and in the interest of transparency, the Commissioner's travel expenses are posted quarterly on this website. For further information, click Proactive Disclosure.
Commissioner - Jill Clayton
Jill Clayton was sworn in as Alberta’s third Information and Privacy Commissioner on February 1, 2012.
Ms. Clayton began her career with Alberta’s Office of the Information and Privacy Commissioner (OIPC) in 2004 as a portfolio officer with the team responsible for ensuring oversight and compliance with Alberta’s Personal Information Protection Act (PIPA). She served as acting director, PIPA, from 2007 to 2008 and director, PIPA, from 2008 to 2011. In June of 2010 Ms. Clayton was appointed Assistant Commissioner, responsible for the development, implementation and oversight of amendments to PIPA, particularly mandatory breach notification requirements.
Prior to her service with the OIPC Ms. Clayton worked as a privacy consultant, providing services to public- and private-sector clients, primarily in the health care, oil and gas, telecommunications and non-profit sectors. She also worked for the Bethany Care Society as manager, planning and performance measurement, from 2001 to 2002 and records management co-ordinator from 1998 to 2000.
Born in Calgary, Ms. Clayton holds degrees in History (BA) and Environmental Design (MEDes Planning) from the University of Calgary.
A nonpartisan officer of the Legislature, the Information and Privacy Commissioner has the requisite authority to perform the broad range of responsibilities, duties and functions prescribed in the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act, the Health Information Act, and the Personal Information Protection Act.