What Alberta’s privacy commissioner can and can’t do after alleged List of Electors breach – StrathmoreNow.com
Publish Date: 2026-05-08 08:31:00
Source Domain: strathmorenow.com
The Office of the Information and Privacy Commissioner of Alberta says it has received more than 180 emails and phone calls from Albertans concerned about the recent online publication of the provincial List of Electors.
The OIPC has now published a frequently asked questions document outlining what the commissioner can and cannot do, what law governs the matter and where Albertans should direct some of their questions.
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The commissioner’s office said Elections Alberta informed the OIPC on April 30 of the alleged breach of the List of Electors by a third party.
According to the OIPC, the List of Electors contains the personal information of millions of Albertans, including full names, addresses, postal codes, phone numbers and unique elector identifier numbers.
“In the last week, the OIPC has received more than 180 emails and phone calls with questions, concerns, comments and requests regarding this incident,” the office stated in a May 7 release.
Because of that volume, the office said it is unable to respond to each person individually.
Some of the matters raised by Albertans are also not within the commissioner’s jurisdiction.
Questions and concerns received by the OIPC include how Albertans can know what personal information about them was included in the List of Electors.
Others asked whether their information has been compromised and used without their knowledge, and how they can protect themselves from possible harms.
Albertans have also asked whether their names appear on any citizen petition, whether people involved in the alleged breach can be prosecuted and whether a public inquiry can be held.
Questions about the list go to Elections Alberta
The OIPC says the Election Act governs the content, distribution, protection and authorized use of the provincial List of Electors.
The guidance says the Information and Privacy Commissioner does not have jurisdiction over the creation and distribution of…
