Heather McPherson MP - Centurion Project Data Breach - Letter to the Privacy Commissioner of Canada

May 25, 2025

Philippe Dufresne
Privacy Commissioner of Canada
30 Victoria Street
Gatineau, Quebec K1A 1H3

Dear Commissioner Dufresne,

I am writing as both a Member of Parliament and an Albertan to request your office investigate the unauthorized use of the Alberta Election list by the Centurion Project and report to Parliament regarding your recommendations as to how the federal government can assist Albertans in protecting their privacy.

As you are aware, the Centurion Project run by David Parker, received a copy of the official Elections Alberta electoral list from an authorized user of that list – the Republican Party of Alberta. This transfer of the Elections Alberta list contravenes the Alberta Election Act. After illicitly receiving the official elector list, the Centurion Project openly published the list on a US-based internet platform and invited the public to access the list, putting every Albertans’ personal data at risk.

The impact on Albertans is profound. Individuals whose safety is at risk now face the reality that their location is available to their abusers. Others who must shield their home addresses from the public including judges, lawyers, and elected officials are also impacted.

As separatist organizers in Alberta have sought US support for their efforts, including funding from the Trump administration, have offered to support US annexation efforts in

Canada and Alberta specifically, and have now provided Albertans’ information to a US-based and Republican-party affiliated platform (10XVotes), I have grave concerns regarding this information being used by foreign actors interfering in Canadian elections.

While Alberta’s Personal Information Protection Act (PIPA) governs most entities in Alberta, this specific data breach must be investigated by your office. As the Centurion Project transferred Canadians’ personal data across an international border, your office holds the responsibility under the federal Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act (PIPEDA) to investigate.

I urge you to act quickly, and I look forward to you fulfilling your responsibilities under PIPEDA in this case.

Respectfully,

Heather McPherson
Member of Parliament for Edmonton Strathcona