Alberta Justice Minister Kathleen Ganley warns of potential privacy breach

Police and justice department officials are investigating a potential privacy breach of client data from the Maintenance Enforcement Program (MEP), which collects and enforces spousal, partner, and child support.

So far, the investigation has revealed up to 60 files may have been compromised by the potential breach. Investigators continue to comb through the remainder of the files to see if any more personal information is at risk, according to Kathleen Ganley, Minister of Justice and Solicitor General.

Those whose information has been affected will be informed by police or the department, she said.

A single employee is the focus of the investigation, Ganley said. That employee no longer has access to MEP records.

She said the MEP database contains considerable sensitive, confidential and personal information about people involved in spousal and child support.

"I have also directed my department to complete a thorough investigation into the operating procedures to determine how, and to what extent, government records may have been inappropriately accessed," Ganley said.

"And, importantly, what could be done to prevent this from happening again."

Ganleysaid the Information and Privacy Commissioner has been informed of the potential breach.

Anyone who thinks they may have been affected are being directed to theMEP website.