Oct 3, 2014

On October 6-7, 2014, over 200 public sector employees from provincial and municipal governments, school divisions, universities, colleges and health-care bodies will gather at the Delta Hotel in Winnipeg for the 2014 Manitoba Connections: Access, Privacy, Security and Information Management Conference, hosted by Manitoba Ombudsman.

 “The tremendous response to this conference demonstrates a broadening interest on the part of access and privacy decision makers and bodes well for the future,” said Acting Manitoba Ombudsman Mel Holley.

Information is at the core of all programs and services of public bodies and trustees. Because access to information, information privacy, information security and information management are interconnected, strengthening one area also benefits the other areas. Robust information management practices, for example, improve access to information and facilitate better privacy protection, too. Information security ensures the protection of and control over information assets, and safeguards the privacy of personal and personal health information.

Manitoba Connections recognizes the benefits that can be gained by breaking down the silos around these areas. Over the course of one and a half days, participants will hear from five plenary speakers and will customize their own learning path by choosing from a selection of 16 different breakout sessions. Additionally, there are three optional half-day pre-conference workshops on the morning of October 6 to enable participants to explore issues in-depth.

Manitoba Ombudsman is the access and privacy oversight office for The Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (FIPPA) and The Personal Health Information Act (PHIA).

For more information about the conference, please visit www.manitobaconnections.ca. For information about Manitoba Ombudsman, visit www.ombudsman.mb.ca.