From the Doorstep to the Database: Political Parties, Campaigns, and Personal Privacy Protection in Canada

32 Pages Posted: 3 Feb 2020

See all articles by Colin Bennett

Colin Bennett

Department of Political Science, University of Victoria

Michael McDonald

University of Victoria, Department of Political Science; University of Victoria, Faculty of Law

Date Written: September 2019

Abstract

This paper examines the Canadian privacy regime’s lack of regulation with respect to political parties, and chronicles the various privacy risks that exist as a result. It provides an overview of Canada’s unique political context, discusses the emergence of data-driven campaigns, and surveys the constitutional protections afforded to parties. This paper also engages in an overview of the various statutory and regulatory provisions that govern political parties in Canada. Specifically, it asserts that a patchwork approach to privacy regulation, necessitated by Canada’s federal framework, has allowed political parties to fall through the cracks. As such, political parties exist largely outside of a privacy regime that is preoccupied with regulating public bodies and commercial entities. Such a regulatory gap is of particular concern given the privacy risks inherent in data-driven campaigns. This paper concludes by highlighting the predominating privacy issues, and raises the question as to whether political parties should be treated as commercial entities.

Keywords: Privacy Regulation; Political Parties; Data-Driven Elections; Canadian Politics

Suggested Citation

Bennett, Colin and McDonald, Michael and McDonald, Michael, From the Doorstep to the Database: Political Parties, Campaigns, and Personal Privacy Protection in Canada (September 2019). Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=3516992 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.3516992

Colin Bennett (Contact Author)

Department of Political Science, University of Victoria ( email )

3800 Finnerty Rd
Victoria, British Columbia V8P 5C2
Canada

HOME PAGE: http://www.colinbennett.ca

Michael McDonald

University of Victoria, Department of Political Science ( email )

Victoria, British Columbia
Canada

University of Victoria, Faculty of Law ( email )

Victoria, British Columbia
Canada

HOME PAGE: http://https://linkedin.com/in/michaelmcdonald93

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