MICHAEL HARVEY was appointed to a six-year term as BC’s Information and Privacy Commissioner by unanimous motion of the Legislative Assembly in May 2024.
From 2019 until immediately prior to his appointment, Michael served as the Information and Privacy Commissioner for Newfoundland and Labrador. During his term as Commissioner, Michael became a recognized and respected voice at the national privacy and access to information table, particularly in the area of health information rights. He brought experience to those discussions gained from his prior executive roles in Newfoundland and Labrador’s Department of Health and Cabinet Secretariat. In those positions, Michael led significant initiatives to modernize policies, including statutory reviews of health information legislation and working with healthcare providers and other front-line stakeholders to advance the province’s digital health data systems.
Michael has lectured in political science and public administration at Memorial University, the University of Guelph, and the University of Toronto. He has sat on numerous boards, including as President of the St. John’s Legends Swim Club, Chair of the Institute of Public Administration of Canada – NL Regional Group, and as a Director of the Newfoundland and Labrador Health Research Ethics Authority and the Centre for Health Information. He served two terms as a director on the board of the Heart Failure Society of Canada and is a participant in the Canadian Heart Function Alliance.
Michael holds an International Baccalaureate from the United World College – USA, a BA (Hons) in Political Science from Memorial University, a MA in Political Studies from Queen’s University and certificates in conflict management, change management and diversity, equity and inclusion. He is a father of two, an avid skier and cyclist when conditions allow, and an avid swimmer even when they don’t.